MONTREAL—It was out with the old Champlain Bridge and in with the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge on Friday as one Montreal-area span was officially inaugurated while the other bid adieu after 57 years of service. Federal Infrastructure Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne didn’t miss an opportunity to make a reference to the predecessor. The original plan was to turn the new bridge into a toll bridge — a decision overturned by the Trudeau government. “For me the main thing was to build a bridge.” Champagne noted there will be penalties to pay for the bridge coming in six months late. As for the old Champlain bridge, deconstruction work is to begin next year.

Source: thestar June 28, 2019 22:30 UTC