Four concrete bridges are in worse condition as the Sauvagine bridge, in Châteauguaywhere a huge hole appeared last week.
This is what our Investigation Office observed after compiling data from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD).
One of these is even located a few kilometers from the Sauvagine bridge, a portion of which was emergency closed and is still inaccessible today.
This is the Route 132 overpass which passes over Route 207 in Kahnawake. The structure has been in need of major work for at least six years.
During the ranking of the worst bridges carried out by The Journal in 2021, it was in the worst condition among those where more than 1000 cars pass per day. His condition has deteriorated since then.
The last inspection carried out on the structure in 2024 reported several problems with the concrete, significant cracks and corrosion in the steel. A risk of falling concrete fragments is even noted by the inspector.
Safe, says ministry
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The ministry is planning a reconstruction project and work should theoretically begin in 2030, says its spokesperson, Martin Girard. He indicates that it is “a complex project” which notably requires “environmental authorizations” and meetings “with different partners, including the Mohawk council of Kahnawake”.
Three other Quebec road structures are also in worse condition than the Sauvagine bridge, including one in Varenne over which just under 2,000 vehicles pass every day (see box).
“If they are open, it is because they are considered safe,” assures the MTMD, even after the incident at the Sauvagine bridge, which was also open.
Significant delays
According to Marc-André Martin, president of the Professional Association of Government Engineers of Quebec (APIGQ), bureaucratic constraints constitute the main reason behind the delays before works are carried out.
“Time to include this in the programming, to move the entire project management forward […]then to see the start of the work, it now takes between five and seven years,” he says.
According to him, these delays are also part of the reasons why a huge hole two meters long and wider than a car tire appeared on the Sauvagine bridge on March 3.
“This is clearly poor management. We did a risk analysis, we took a risk and it blew us in the face. It’s still major […]it’s not just a little hole,” he says.
The MTMD maintains that it “does everything possible to prevent situations like that of the Sauvagine bridge from occurring on the structures under its management”.
Four concrete bridges in worse condition than the Sauvagine bridge
Four concrete bridges are in worse condition than that of Châteauguay, MTMD data show. To compare, we used the Structural Condition Index (ICS), which is a number between 0 and 100. The ICS is made up of three elements, namely seismic vulnerability, the condition of the structure and its ability to play its role. The lower the index, the more vulnerable the bridge. For example, the Sauvagine bridge is at 37.5, while a brand new structure can have a rating of 100.
Overpass on Route 132 over Route 207, in Kahnawake
On the Kahnawake overpass, corrosion and significant cracks were noted by ministry inspectors in their inspection report.
Photos Pierre-Paul Poulin
- ICS : 25,1
- Passages per day: 41,000
- Year of construction: 1957
Shear cracks suggest “a loss of foundation support” of the structure, indicated MTMD inspectors in 2024 during the last inspection. They also noted spalling, delamination and disintegration of the concrete. The bridge needs major work.
Bridge on the Marie-Victorin road passing over the Saint-Charles river, in Varennes
A hole 30 to 40 cm deep was noted by MTMD inspectors on the deck of the Marie-Victorin road bridge passing over the Saint-Charles River in Varennes.
Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin and Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
- ICS : 30,5
- Passages per day: 1750
- Year of construction: 1953
Disintegration and bursting of concrete, corrosion, long cracks: during the last inspection, last July, the MTMD noted the extent of the bridge’s problems. The inspector on file noted such significant damage that he noted “possible collapse” on a portion of the slab and on a section of sidewalk.
Cedar Bridge, in Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton
The Cèdres Bridge, in Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton, should be demolished and rebuilt this year, according to the MTQ.
Photo taken from an inspection report from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility.
- ICS : 37,4
- Passages per day: 1000
- Year of construction: 1950
This bridge lost a lot of pieces of concrete. Significant disintegration, up to 250 mm deep, was noted in several places by inspectors mandated by the MTMD in October 2024. The bridge should be demolished then rebuilt this year according to the ministry.
Bridge on Hébert Street above the Aulnaies River, in Hébertville
The 0.8 mm shear crack on the bridge on Hébert Street, in Hébertville, is monitored annually by the MTQ.
Google Maps screenshot and photo from an MTMD report
- ICS : 35,2
- Passages per day: 393
- Year of construction: 1945
Concrete shear cracks have been noted by ministry inspectors in recent years. One of them is particularly worrying and is subject to annual monitoring. Significant disintegration of the concrete was also noted last September.
What state are the MTMD structures in?
- Structures requiring no intervention: 6878
- Structures requiring repair: 1800
- Structures requiring major work: 124
- Structures requiring major work up to replacement: 291
- Analyzes in progress: 767
