Canadian Forces build temporary bridge on Laval's le-Verte

More than 100 Canadian Forces engineers have been working around the clock building a new temporary bridge on le-Verte, to restore road access to part of the island, after the regular bridge was heavily damaged by flooding.

le-Verte, an island that is part of Laval, has been experiencing major flooding and dozens of residents have had to evacuate.

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Residents on the eastern part of the island have only been able to access the rest of le-Verteby boat since the water levels in the small creek rose to cover theroadway.

Resident Margaret Molitortold CBC that she's been stuck on the island for more than a week.

"You feel like a prisoner, you can't go anywhere except up and down the street," she said.

This model of temporary bridge is most often used by the Canadian Forces in conflict zones where soldiers are separated from enemy combatants by terrain.

The 50-metre-long structurecan bear the weight of a fire truck, but it will not be accessible to pedestrians.

Work on the bridge started Friday and wrapped up Sunday morning, with the army starting on the next phase of the operationbuilding access ramps on and off the structure.

"Because we are able to coordinate all the manpower and equipment and work24/7, we're able to do it much faster," said Maj. Frank Maloney.

As water levels begin to stabilize, the state of emergency in Montreal has been lifted and some residents are returning to their homes.

Quebec Public Security Minister Martin Coiteuxcautioned that it will be a slow process for residents to return home and take stockwhileflooding is still underway.

"We're still in this for a number of weeks because even if the water levels recede, they are still high and will remain high for a while," said Coiteux.

• Montreal to lift state of emergency on Sunday as water recedes