By Murray Sherriffs
Montreal’s new Champlain bridge has developed rust.
The consortium that built the span noticed the corrosion in several places, in the W-shaped steel pier caps.
The caps are supported by 37 concrete pillars and support the roads and the REM train tracks that connect Montreal’s south shore to Nun’s Island.
They were assembled onsite, bolts screwed inside but the sealant applied to the joints isn’t waterproof, there are micromovements and the sealant isn’t flexible enough and cracks.
The sealant and rust will be removed and a better sealant will be applied on the 330 joints.
The search has begun find the better sealant.
Officials say that taxpayers will not foot the bill for sealant replacement and maintenance of the bridge because it’s all part of the public-private partnership between the government of Canada and the consortium.
