Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine bridge-tunnel to get $500M upgrade

More than $500 million will be invested in the agingLouis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel-bridge, which connects Montreal's east end to the South Shore.

Slated to get underway next spring, there will be a complete overhaul of the lighting, electrical systems, walls, ceilings, signs, fire protection and more.

The aim of the four-year project is to decrease traffic congestion while improving mobility between Montreal and the South Shore, federal InfrastructureMinisterFranois-Philippe Champagne said in a Monday morning announcement.

Calling the investment "historic," he said funding for the project will come from both the provincial and federal governments.

The half-billion-dollar investment will "make sure that we bring the tunnel into the 21st century."

"It's a very ambitious project for the greater Montreal region," Champagne said."It's really about improving the quality of life of citizens."

Since it first opened in 1967, he said the tunnel-bridge has become a vital route for the metropolitan area.

The infrastructure work will include lengthening the reserved bus lanes heading to and from the tunnel, along highways 20 and 25.

"We are also favouring public transit because that is core to our values," the minister said.

Efforts to improve public transit in the region have long been in development, said Chantal Rouleau, Quebec's junior transport minister, who was also at the news conference. Among otherinitiatives arenew park-and-ride lots, the proposed expansion of theferry service for passengers willing to leave their cars behind.

The hope is that people will favour public transit over the use of their personal vehicles,Rouleau said.

The project includes the complete repaving of Highway 25 between le-Charron and the Sherbrooke Street Interchange.

The bridge renovations between le-Charron and the South Shore will also be extensive, Rouleausaid, but there will be an effort to co-ordinate the two work sites so as to minimizeimpact on traffic.

Expect traffic snarls

Rouleau admitted it's impossible to orchestrate projects of this magnitude without affecting circulation.

The work may be problematic and frustrating for commuters, she said, but it is a necessary project to preserve the key route.

The ministers declined to comment on preciselyhow the province and federal government will split the project's cost, but Champagne insisted it will be within the normal ratio of projects like this one.

It is estimated that 120,000 vehicles use the tunnel daily, of which about 15,000 are trucks.

New Champlain Bridge still opening soon

Monday's announcement of the tunnel's renovation comes on the same day that the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge was supposed to at least partially open to trafficafter multiple delays.

Champagne insisted the new bridge will open by the end of June, though he declined to give an exact date.

The bridge is still being painted and crews are treating the structure to prepare it forsummer humidity work that couldn't be done in the winter, he said.

"We are on time," he said. "I think now people will be happy to see this major crossing very soon."

The deconstruction of the old Champlain Bridgewill be going on at the same time as the tunnel project.