Quebec bans heavy trucks on 135 bridges, overpasses

Transport Quebec has banneddouble tractor-trailers from about 135 highway bridges and overpasses until inspectors finish tests to determine their safety.

The provincial Transportation Department also said it was suspending all special permits for heavy trucks on those structures, because they were built in a similar fashion to theConcorde overpass in Laval, which collapsed inlate 2006killing five people.

The highway structures will be examined for any weaknesses or deterioration, and will be reinforced if necessary, transport officials said as they released the list moments after the Johnson Commission wrapped up its hearings into the Concorde overpass collapse.

But there is no immediate danger, and drivers ofregular vehicles shouldn't be concerned about using the roads while theinspections are underway,stressed Jacques Gagnon, a regional director with Transport Quebec.

"It must be clear for all, they can travel on the network without any fears," he said.

The inspections may require repair work including steel reinforcement,he added. "Its just to check some specific aspects of the design, that is particular to that type of structure."

Commercial truck drivers will have to take detours to avoid the 135 bridges and overpasses but Transport Quebec will offer alternate routes.

The special inspections will start in the fall.

End of hearings at Johnson Commission

The truck ban and additional inspections were announced as former Quebec premier Pierre Marc Johnsonconcluded hearings at the commission investigating the Concorde overpass collapse.

The commission has heard from various expert witnesses who have offered different theories on why the overpass spanning Highway 19 north of Montreal collapsed last September.

Some engineers said it was a flawed design, others suggested there were shortcuts taken when the structure was first built and some witnesses said repair work done 15 years ago on the overpass weakened the concrete and allowed it to deteriorate.

Johnson said the challenge now is to sort through all the testimony and evidence and arrive at concrete conclusions.

"Its up to us to formulate a consensus, if we can call it that," he said Thursday afternoon.

"I know [transport officials] are deploying resources in a context thats not always easy," he said. "Im convinced that Quebec citizens are counting on those efforts."

The list of 135 structures requiring inspection was spurred by a rare warning from Johnson last spring during the first phase of the overpass commission hearings.

Johnson said there were dozens of highway bridges and overpasses across the province that were risky because they were built using the same designas the Concorde span.

The commission will reconvene again in August for final arguments, then will spend the next two months drafting their report.

The Johnson Commission has cost $3.5 million.