Des Allumettes Bridge Replacement Project

Background

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is responsible for 17 engineering assets across the country, including the Des Allumettes Bridge, and is carrying out a five-year major capital work plan to ensure they remain safe. As part of this plan, PSPC is proceeding with the replacement of the bridge.

In 1953, the federal Department of Public Works and the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario agreed to construct an interprovincial crossing to link western Quebec to the province of Ontario near Pembroke, and to expand the corridor of Quebec Highway 148. The Provinces were responsible for building bridges over other waterways within their respective provincial jurisdictions, and Canada was responsible for building the interprovincial bridge over the main Ottawa River channel at the border between the two provinces.

The Des Allumettes Bridge was designed in 1955 and constructed in 1957 by the Department of Public Works.

It crosses the main channel of the Ottawa River just southeast of Pembroke, linking Ontario to the municipality of L'Isle-aux-Allumettes in Quebec. The bridge is an important interprovincial transportation link between Highway 17 in Ontario and Highway 148 in Quebec, particularly for the forest industry. It carries about 5,000 vehicles per day, with a commercial vehicle component of about 10 per cent.

Scope of the activities

The general scope of work for the Des Allumettes Bridge Project is as follows:

• construct a new bridge close to the existing bridge
• remove the existing structure
• maintain traffic during construction

Project activities

In the fall of 2011, PSPC proceeded with a Request for Proposals for the tendering of an engineering design consultant for the bridge rehabilitation project. This process was conducted in a fair, open and transparent manner through the Government Electronic Tendering System, Buyandsell.gc.ca.

In February 2012, PSPC announced the awarding of an engineering design contract valued at $1,169,659.61 to Delcan Corporation of Ottawa, Ontario, for the replacement of the Des Allumettes Bridge.

The contract was competitively awarded, and Delcan Corporation provided engineering design services and prepared the construction drawings and specifications for the replacement of the bridge.

The construction drawings and specifications were completed in January 2014, and an Invitation to Tender was posted on the Government Electronic Tendering System on February 26, 2014.

On April 29, 2014, following a competitive bidding process, PSPC announced the awarding of a $26.9-million contract to Pomerleau Inc. of Montréal for the replacement of the Des Allumettes Bridge. In July 2014, work on the interprovincial bridge commenced.

Since August 14, 2015, motorists have been using the new Des Allumettes Bridge. The work was substantially completed in December 2015.

Feedback and contacts

If you would like to obtain more information, please contact Public Services and Procurement Canada's Real Property Branch.