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Essar lands steel contract for Montreal bridge

Essar Steel Algoma is supplying structural steel bridge plates to build the new Champlain Bridge in Montreal. The Sault Ste.
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Essar Steel Algoma is supplying structural steel bridge plates to build the new Champlain Bridge in Montreal.

Essar Steel Algoma is supplying structural steel bridge plates to build the new Champlain Bridge in Montreal.

The Sault Ste. Marie steel maker announced it has signed a contract with Canam-Bridges, a division of the Canam Group, to supply 20 per cent of the project’s total steel requirement.

Essar did not divulge the value of the contract in a Sept. 11 press release.

The 3.4-kilometre bridge spans the St. Lawrence River between Montreal and the South Shore. It’s being lauded as one of the largest infrastructure projects in North America.

The new bridge will be located downstream from the existing Champlain Bridge.

The structure will feature a three-corridor design, including two three-lane corridors for vehicular traffic and a two-lane public transport corridor capable of accommodating a light rail transit system. It will also include a multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.

“Algoma has a rich 115 year steelmaking tradition here in Canada, making steel for bridges, ships, wind towers and more,” said Essar Steel president-CEO Kalyan Ghosh in a statement. “We are very proud to be a chosen supplier to one of Canada’s most critical infrastructure investments. The new

Champlain Bridge has a 125-year design life and our steel is made to withstand the test of time.”

In August, Canam-Bridge signed a $225-million contract with Signature of the St. Lawrence Construction G.P. to supply the steel superstructure for the approaches to the new bridge. Steel fabrication for the bridge begins this fall and deliveries will continue until the spring of 2018.