‘Not one more inch’ for overpass
Marcus Bankuti The Eastern Door
The Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK) sent Quebec back to the drawing board after being presented with plans for the replacement of a deteriorating overpass that would have increased the structure’s footprint, according to MCK portfolio chief Arnold Boyer.
The structure, which drew outside media attention over the weekend for its shoddy condition, is set to be replaced in 2029, according to Boyer, and is expected to take two years to complete.
Boyer said Quebec’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) has to find a way to meet modern construction standards without increasing the size of the Highway 138 bridge that crosses over Route 207.
“Of course this creates a challenge for them, but you have to respect our community, and ‘not one more inch,’” he said, referring to the community’s position on land sovereignty.
Boyer said this back and forth is part of the normal consultation timeline, and not something that would cause delays for the bridge’s replacement. The MCK reviewed designs last year and expects to see a new version later this year, he said.
Following the appearance of a large hole in Chateauguay’s Sauvagine Bridge, shocking and angering residents in the whole region, the Kahnawake overpass, which is also “owned” and maintained by the province via the MTMD, was recently cited by the Journal de Montreal as being in even worse shape following an analysis of ministry data.
“According to MTMD, it is urgent to be repaired. From my understanding, it’s not as bad as the thing that just happened in Chateauguay,” said MCK grand chief Cody Diabo.
The bridge was previously featured by the Journal de Montreal in a 2021 article, when it made the newspaper’s list of worst bridges carrying more than 1,000 cars per day.
Boyer said community members have spoken to him about the condition of the overpass.
“Of course it raises concerns, for myself too, when you see concrete falling, becoming detached, when you see reinforcement rods,” said Boyer. “I have constant communication with the MTMD, and I raised the concerns to these people. I said our community members are really concerned about the appearance of the overpass.”
While Boyer suggested safety is always a concern, he said the MTMD visually inspects the bridge twice a year and more substantially every two years - with an inspection due in 2026 - and currently deems it safe.
“If there’s a concern, of course they’ll close it if they find it unsafe,” he said.
According to Diabo, the MTMD wanted the overpass to be tall enough to allow trucks to pass through. While trucks are prohibited there, the MTMD has said this standard is necessary for the ministry’s modern building codes, according to Diabo.
“Build it how it needs to be built, but you’re not making it any higher because there’s no trucks at all,” said Diabo. “We don’t even want to give them the ability to say ‘Oh, we made a wrong turn so I’m just going to drive through here anyway.’
“No, you can’t cross or you’re going to get stuck underneath. It’s a little bit of a back and forth with MTMD on that one.”
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The MTMD did not reply to a request for comment from The Eastern Door by deadline.
Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
