Maintenance Plan and Durability Design for the New Samuel De Champlain Bridge

Opened in 2019, the new Samuel De Champlain Bridge in Montreal, Canada is one of the busiest bridges in North America. The 3.4-km long-span bridge across the St. Lawrence River is comprised of three structures: A 529 m signature span featuring an asymmetric Cable-Stayed Bridge, a 762 m East Approach, and a 2044 m West Approach. Due to its geographical location, this lifeline structure faces unique engineering design challenges including extreme cold temperatures, ice abrasion, de- icing salt attacks, wind, vessel collision, scour, and seismic hazards, while meeting its design life of 125 years. A comprehensive durability plan as well as access and maintenance plans were developed by the design-build team to address material selections, the corrosion protection system, construction quality and inspection, element replacement intervals, and maintenance equipment, including the under-bridge maintenance gantry (UBMG) and electronic superstructure shuttle/ vehicle as keys to the longevity of the bridge.