The Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague lift bridge will be closed to traffic for more than a month this coming January and February. The St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation announced via press release that it will take advantage of the closure of the navigation season to perform maintenance work to replace the cables on the bridge.
The bridge is expected to be completely closed to traffic from January 16 to February 27; however, the schedule may change because of weather conditions or other circumstances. Detour signs will be in place to help drivers cross the Beauharnois Canal using either the Larocque bridge or the Melocheville tunnel.
In an interview with the Journal le Saint-François, Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague mayor Yves Daoust noted the last time maintenance of this nature was done was in 1985, and that the work was necessary to avoid more serious problems down the road. According to Daoust, the work will involve changing the steel cables that lift the deck of the bridge, which will require the installation of two cranes to support the weight.
For safety reasons, the Halte des Pêcheurs, which is part of the Parc Régionale de Beauharnois-Salaberry and located next to the bridge, will be closed between December 19 to the 23 and from January 16 to March 3, 2023. (SR)
