Laviolette Bridge Rehabilitation

A Project in Stages Over Multiple Phases

The Laviolette Bridge rehabilitation mandate awarded to us was fulfilled in two distinct phases — with Phase 1 completed before the start of our project.

Despite the complex work and traffic management, we completed this mandate on a very tight schedule, working 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In Phase 2, the project consisted of first working on two southbound lanes and, then on the 625-m northbound approach. Specifically, this phase involved the following:

• Modifying and strengthening the bridge’s steel substructure
• Painting the bridge’s steel bridge structure 
• Demolishing the existing sidewalks, walkways and other elements
• Replacing the concrete deck (200 deck slabs) and bridge spans (in 36 hours)
• Rebuilding the exterior guardrails and expansion joints
• Repairing the piles
• Other related work

In Phase 3, we worked on the 675-m southbound approach. This phase also involved the following work:

• Replacing the 325-m deck slabs (and related work)
• Demolishing the two-lane, 30-m span of prestressed concrete beams with integral slabs
• Replacing the demolished spans with a mixed steel-concrete structure (during a 10-hour weekend cycle)
• Building new 30-m deck sections on land (on mounting benches, including the slab)

Meeting Tight Deadlines

Our crew worked in rotating shifts 24/7 to keep to the project's tight deadline.

Managing Traffic

In addition to highly-complex work, we had to manage traffic during the project. Two of the four lanes had to remain open at all times every weekday.