The Government of Canada believes in the importance of protecting our environment while supporting vital infrastructure projects that promote clean growth, preserve healthy ecosystems and build safe sustainable communities.

“I am very pleased that the New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project has earned the ENVISION^TM Platinum award. This confirms it is following high standards of sustainable development to ensure the environment is protected. I want to congratulate the environment teams of Infrastructure Canada and Signature on the Saint Lawrence for their hard work in developing and applying the project’s environmental requirements. It is thanks to their efforts that the new Champlain Bridge will not only be a modern effective piece of transportation infrastructure, but also an example of sustainable development and innovation Montréalers and Canadians can be proud of.”

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“I would like to thank the teams who have worked together to achieve this prestigious recognition. The project is subject to very high technical standards of sustainable development and, as a flagship project for Montréal and Canada, it was crucial for SSL to attain the highest possible distinction.”

Hugh Boyd, Project Director for the New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project, Signature on the St-Lawrence

• Award-winning features of the New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project:

• Active Transportation: Creation of a multi-use path for cyclists and pedestrians on the new Champlain and Île-des-Sœurs bridges that will connect Brossard and Montréal (Île-des-Sœurs and Verdun).

• Durability: The Government of Canada’s holistic approach to durability will give the new bridge a useable lifespan of 125 years.

• Design flexibility: The storm water drainage system for the New Champlain Bridge Corridor was designed to withstand the increase of rain water expected from climate change.

• Greenhouse gas emissions: GHG emissions generated during construction of the new Champlain Bridge have been offset by the purchase of carbon credits. 

• Light pollution: The use of LED lights with intelligent dimmers will reduce energy consumption and reduce light pollution that can have an impact on migratory birds.

• Recycling: 45% of construction waste from the demolition of the Île-des-Sœurs bridge and roads was reused on the site and 54% was recycled so only 1% of waste went to the landfill. This also reduced truck traffic and the use of quarry materials as well as GHG emissions. 

• Compensation: To offset the inevitable loss of fish habitats, wetlands and migratory bird sanctuaries from the construction of the New Champlain Bridge Corridor, the Government of Canada set up parallel compensation projects to restore marshlands on Lapierre Island in Montréal and create spawning habitats in the Vaudreuil Rapids. 

Associated links

• To learn more about the New Champlain Bridge project
• To learn more about the New Champlain Bridge project
• Lapierre Island compensation project
• Vaudreuil Rapids compensation project

Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
Tel: 613-219-0149
Brook.Simpson@canada.ca

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