Honoré Mercier Bridge: Greenspace

Honoré Mercier Bridge: Greenspace

Project: HMP0015

The Honoré Mercier Bridge ("the bridge") was built between 1932 and 1934, under the responsibility of the Corporation du Pont du Lac Saint-Louis. Responsibility for the bridge was transferred to the Government of Québec in 1942. In 1932, the Government of Canada made a commitment to prioritize the employment of skilled Indigenous workers for the maintenance and renovation of the bridge.

Between 1958 and 1959, as part of the construction of the Seaway, the St. Lawrence Seaway Authority (SLSA) raised and extended the southern part of the bridge to allow ships to pass under it, and a section of the bridge was widened to four lanes. At the same time, an agreement was reached regarding the division of responsibilities between the provincial and federal governments. Since 1998, sections 1 to 4 have been under the jurisdiction of The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI).

The Government of Canada is working to advance reconciliation and strengthen its relationship with Indigenous people, a relationship based on recognition, respect, cooperation and partnership. Thus, the present project, which has been developed in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK), aims to:

  • Renew relations with the Kahnawà:ke community by promoting Mohawk culture and history
  • Revitalize the vacant land at the southeast approach to the bridge, creating a gathering space and a gateway to the city of Kahnawà:ke

More specifically, this project includes, but is not limited to, the following key elements:

  • The creation of a linear pathway on the southeast approach to the bridge, on the land between Old Malone Road and the Route 132 west ramp to Route 138 west
  • The reforestation of vacant land
  • The creation of gathering and meeting places
  • The development of trails and pedestrian access
  • The creation of both permanent and temporary parking areas
  • The promotion of Mohawk culture and history through the integration of artistic elements into the design
  • The installation of new lighting for safety purposes and to enhance the landscape
  • The implementation of bioretention systems to manage rainwater

During construction, which will start in spring 2026 and end in 2027, traffic will be maintained on Old Malone Road, Route 132 and the ramp from Route 132 west to Route 138 west. However, partial and occasional closures will be necessary at certain critical stages of the project, such as the construction of parking lots, access roads and planted areas along Old Malone Road.

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Latest update

Notice of Decision – Honoré Mercier Bridge, Green Space Development

An analysis carried out by The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI) has determined that the project to develop a green space near the Honoré Mercier Bridge is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

This determination is based on the following factors:

  • Impacts on the rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Indigenous knowledge
  • Community knowledge
  • Comments received from the public
  • Technically and economically feasible mitigation measures

The project has been developed in close consultation with the Kahnawà:ke community, as part of efforts to establish a genuine partnership with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke. Co-creation and consultation activities were attended by representatives of various groups within the Kahnawà:ke community, helping ensure that the development will make a positive contribution once completed.

Effective mitigation measures are planned for each potential environmental impact. As part of the project, various measures will be implemented to control nuisances and protect the natural environment, plants and wildlife (including special-status species). Here are some key examples of mitigation measures developed specifically for this project:  

  • Threats to air quality will be mitigated by applying water to emitter zones, cleaning access roads and traffic lanes, limiting construction equipment speeds, covering bulk materials during transport, reducing equipment idling, and performing regular equipment maintenance.
  • Soil disturbance will be minimized by preventing soil compaction and degradation, carefully managing excavated soils, and avoiding accidental contamination.
  • Silting will be limited by restricting storage areas, and by carefully managing runoff water, maintenance areas, refuelling areas and concrete wash water.
  • The proliferation of invasive alien species will be suppressed through the excavation of any invasive plant communities identified on the plans. Invasive plant residues (stems, rhizomes, fragments) and all associated excavated soils will be buried in a disposal pit constructed at the project site. Furthermore, strict machinery and equipment cleaning protocols will be implemented.
  • With respect to special-status species, including the Susquehanna sand cherry (Prunus susquehanae) and narrowleaf blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), all individuals present on the site will be identified and precisely geolocated before work begins. A physical protection zone at least three metres in diameter will then be established around each individual or community, with temporary fencing used to prevent any traffic, treading, material storage or worksite activity in these sensitive areas.
  • To protect fish habitat, work will be carried out during the low-risk period, erosion control measures will be implemented, deforestation will be limited, aquatic habitat functions will be maintained and the site will be restored. In addition, water from inside cofferdam enclosures will be treated before it is returned to the aquatic environment (to limit sediment flow), any fish trapped in confined or isolated sections of the worksite will be carefully recovered and immediately released into the aquatic environment, and water circulation in the work area will be restored gradually to allow for adjusting and interlocking the reconstituted bed materials (thereby ensuring the bed’s impermeability).
  • An appropriate device (e.g., a strainer) will be installed at the pump inlet to prevent the intake of fish. Likewise, the pump outlet will be oriented and configured in such a way as to prevent the water released downstream of the work area from causing localized bank erosion.

 

The project is aligned with the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy, whose goals include increasing the canopy and green spaces, expanding fish habitat through the enhancement of aquatic environments, improving snake and bat habitats, and strengthening relations with Indigenous communities such as Kahnawà:ke.

Residual and cumulative effects were taken into account in this analysis. Thanks to the implementation of mitigation measures and a comprehensive environmental monitoring program, the project is not expected to cause significant adverse environmental effects. JCCBI has also retained the services of a specialized firm to continuously monitor the work and ensure compliance with the planned mitigation measures.

The Corporation will therefore be moving forward and allowing the project to proceed, in whole or in part.

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Key documents

Key documents
Document number Document title File Date
2 Notice of Decision PDF (133 KB) May 1, 2026
1 Notice of Intent to Make a Determination - Start of Public Comment Period - April 30, 2025

Contacts

The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated
Philippe Larouche, Senior project coordinator
1225 Saint-Charles W, Suite 500
Longueuil, Quebec J4K 0B9
Telephone: 514-210-4651
Email: plarouche@pjcci.ca


Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

  • Location

    • Kahnawà:ke - Greenspace (Quebec)

  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified

  • Assessment Status

    Completed

  • Start Date

    2025-04-30

  • Proponent

    The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI)

  • Authorities

    • Jacques-Cartier Champlain Bridges

  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands

  • Reference Number

    89457

Nearby assessments

...within 200 kilometres
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