According to the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable (MTMD), a ban on trucking on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge could be considered in the event of force majeure, but its application would be difficult. At present, only non-standard vehicles are allowed on the bridge.

"Banning trucking is currently being evaluated. If we had to, we'd remove the trucks. But it's not that simple to ask all the heavy trucks to stop driving there. There are several issues at stake. Grocery stores need to stock up, and industries need to keep moving," MTMD Communications Director Maxime Roy confirmed to Néomédia.

"We understand that citizens have concerns about this. They think that heavy trucks are inevitably heavier, and wonder if this could damage the bridge. They wonder if the bridge is still safe. The simple answer is yes. The bridge is safe for the activity we're doing on it right now," adds Mr. Roy.

Since December 2, a fourth lane of traffic has been cut back on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge after significant damage was detected on a concrete slab. Since then, two lanes have been open, one in each direction, causing major congestion on the entire road network.

On social networks, many motorists impacted by this new configuration are questioning the safety of the infrastructure, as well as the fact that heavy vehicles are still allowed to use it. 

Nearly 90,000 motorists cross the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge every day. Thousands of these are heavy trucks.

The domino effect

If, indeed, the MTMD were to ban heavy vehicles from the bridge, the municipal road networks, the urban boulevard of Highway 20 in the Vaudreuil-Dorion sector and Highway 30 would inevitably be heavily impacted.

"It would just be moving the problem around. When trucks are on the urban boulevard, with the lights, they take longer to leave. It would create other issues. The aim is not to create more traffic on social networks, damage roads or cause accidents. It's a domino effect: as soon as you do something somewhere, it has repercussions elsewhere. That, too, makes the study of mitigation measures complex," explains Maxime Roy. 

Punctual meetings

Like the general public, the closure of a fourth traffic lane took the MTMD by surprise, according to the communications director. "We were stunned. We didn't expect this at all. The plan is to reopen the third lane as quickly as possible, making sure, of course, that the bridge is safe. Unfortunately, there are no miracle solutions," says Roy.

According to estimates, it will be another six to eight weeks before the third lane is reopened. To date, however, no precise timetable has been announced.

Since December 2, nearly six meetings have been held between the various stakeholders involved in and affected by the reconfiguration of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge.

"We have occasional meetings with elected officials to get a feel for the situation on the ground. We're opening up the meetings to more elected officials because we realize that other municipalities are impacted by the situation. Health services and the police are also meeting with us. We're really mobilized. We read what's happening on social networks. It's important to give citizens the right information. Communications haven't always been easy in this case, but we're paying particular attention," concluded Maxime Roy.

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Île-aux-Tourtes bridge: another six to eight weeks of misery

Île-aux-Tourtes bridge: no question of declaring a state of emergency

Île-aux-Tourtes bridge: discontent among motorists   

New configuration on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge starting tonight   

Île-aux-Tourtes bridge: MTMD improves existing measures 

Île-aux-Tourtes bridge : No accelerated schedule