Overpass collapse report expected to call for provincial bridge agency

The Johnson commission will recommend Quebec establish an agency in charge of inspecting and repairing bridges and overpasses, according to reports published Wednesday.

Montreal newspaper La Presse said the agency is the main proposal in former Quebec premier Pierre Marc Johnson's report on the Concorde overpass collapse.

The Highway 19 overpass collapsed Sept. 30 2006 killing five people and injuring six.

The Johnson commission handed its report to Quebec Transport Minister Julie Boulet on Monday, but the province won't be made public until Thursday.

Boulet is said to have lobbied her fellow cabinet ministers in recent weeks to get their approval of a proposed tax to finance the new bridge and overpass agency.

The agency would have the power to outsource maintenance and repair contracts to the private sector.

Johnson was appointed to head the commission last winter, which was mandated to investigate the causes of the tragedy.

The report is expected to conclude the quality of concrete used to build the overpasses was insufficient to withstand Quebec's harsh climate and freeze-thaw cycle.