South Shore's old Champlain Bridge site becomes new public park after $345M deconstruction
The Héritage Champlain Pathway was unveiled Wednesday on Montreal's South Shore, marking the completion of the original bridge's demolition with 96 per cent of its materials recycled or reused.
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A new public park opened Wednesday at the foot of the original Champlain Bridge on Montreal's South Shore, marking the completion of a major deconstruction project that cost $345 million and lasted several years.
The Héritage Champlain Pathway was unveiled as the most visible legacy of dismantling the aging bridge, which had reached the end of its useful life. Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), the company responsible for operating the bridges connecting the island of Montreal to the South Shore, managed the work.
JCCBI said the deconstruction involved "unprecedented" technical and environmental challenges due to the bridge's proximity to urban centres and the St. Lawrence River. Despite an initial $400 million cost estimate, the project came in under budget.
"Our main objective was 80 per cent and we recycled and reused 96 per cent of the materials," said Raphaël Lavoie, senior director of projects for JCCBI. The company noted that materials from the original structure were reused or recycled across various projects across Canada. Aquatic and shoreline habitats were also restored.
Alexandra Mendès, MP for Brossard—Saint-Lambert, applauded the project's environmental approach. "The fact that the materials have been reused and that this careful thought about how to ensure that the environment is protected, I think it was a very big challenge," she said. "I was expecting a few complaints in my office — not a single one."
The facts
What is the Héritage Champlain Pathway?
The Héritage Champlain Pathway is a new public park that opened on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the foot of the original Champlain Bridge on Montreal's South Shore, created as part of the bridge's deconstruction project.
How much did the Champlain Bridge deconstruction cost?
The deconstruction of the original Champlain Bridge cost $345 million, coming in under the initial $400 million cost estimate.
What percentage of the original bridge's materials were recycled or reused?
Ninety-six percent of the materials from the original Champlain Bridge were recycled or reused across various projects across Canada, exceeding the initial 80 per cent target.
