Aging Mercier Bridge to get new addition, but timeline unknown

The 82-year-old Honor Mercier Bridge, which links Montreal to the South Shore, will be getting a major facelift.

On Sunday, the Quebec government announced it will builda new structureparallel to the existing the bridge that willaddtwo lanes of traffic as well a bike path.

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The current bridge erected in 1934 no longer meets modern road and traffic standards, said Pierre Moreau, MNAforChteauguay and chair of the Treasury Board.

"The upkeep is too expensive," Moreausaid at a news conference.

The construction project is estimated to cost more than $100 million. Quebec shares jurisdiction of the bridge with the federal government.

Truck driversand cyclists kept in mind

Quebec says the new addition will allow the province to lift its current ban on overloaded trucks that use the bridgeandwill restore the full width of the road.

The new bike path will link up withpathslocated on either side of the bridge.

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There were few details on when construction on the new addition will begin and the completion date is still unknown, butTransport MinisterLaurentLessardsaid he thought it would happen within two to five years.