Weatheroffice - Environment Canada

Introduction

The Honoré Mercier Bridge spans the St. Lawrence River and Seaway between LaSalle on the Island of Montreal and the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake on the South Shore.

Named in honour of former Quebec premier the Honourable Honoré Mercier, the bridge became the fourth structure to link the Island of Montreal and the South Shore after the Victoria Bridge (in 1860), the Lachine Railway Bridge (a CPR bridge built in 1885 that now stands beside the Honoré Mercier Bridge) and the Jacques Cartier Bridge (in 1930).

The opening of the Honoré Mercier Bridge provided a new route into southern Quebec from the Island of Montreal. It also reduced the distance between Montreal and New York State by many kilometres.

Today, an estimated 29.5 million vehicles cross the Honoré Mercier Bridge every year.

Beginning of Bridge Construction (November 1932)

Construction of the bridge began in November 1932 and was completed in the early summer of 1934.

Built by the Dominion Bridge Company Limited under a government-funded work program to mitigate the Depression, it was designed by 11 French-Canadian engineers, all of them graduates of the École Polytechnique de Montréal.

Opened to Traffic (June 22, 1934)

It was opened to traffic on June 22, 1934, 10 months ahead of schedule.

Commissioners

The Honoré Mercier Bridge was built for the Corporation du pont du lac Saint-Louis, whose commissioners were:

  • The Honourable Raoul O. Groth, legal counsel, President

  • J. Arthur Trudeau, Vice President

  • Louis Chatelle, Secretary-Treasurer

  • Gérald Fauteux, K.C., Assistant Treasurer

  • Joseph Dupont

  • Robert R. Ness

Tolls

The following tolls were charged to cross the bridge:

  • $0.50 for an automobile and driver;

  • $0.05 for each additional passenger;

  • $0.50 for a truck weighing 2,000 lbs (907.18 kg) or less and the driver;

  • $0.80 for a truck weighing between 2,000 lbs (907.18 kg) and 4,000 lbs (1,814.36 kg) and the driver;

  • $1.20 for a truck weighing between 4,000 lbs (1,814.36 kg) and 8,000 lbs (3,628.72 kg) and the driver;

  • $1.80, $2.00, $2.40 and $3.00 for trucks weighing 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg), 12,000 lbs (5,443 kg), 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg) and 16,000 lbs (7,257 kg) respectively, and the driver.

 

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