Madam Speaker, our priority is to get the Samuel de Champlain Bridge built without compromising the safety and security of the workers or the quality of the work.
We have made significant progress on this new bridge, and its structure is now basically complete. In December, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities joined workers on the bridge deck to celebrate this milestone and to announce that the new structure will be called the Samuel de Champlain Bridge.
The next steps will be the permanent finishing work, including waterproofing and paving, which will begin in the spring when the necessary weather conditions permit it.
As the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities announced on October 25, 2018, the Samuel de Champlain Bridge will be open to traffic by June 2019 at the latest.
We continue to work closely with our private partner, Signature on the Saint Lawrence, or SSL, to ensure that the bridge is completed to the highest possible standards. At the same time, we are responsibly managing public funds and respecting the terms and conditions of the contract with SSL.
With regard to the contract with SSL and the penalties, the minister clearly indicated that there would be consequences.
We are currently negotiating certain elements with SSL, and we will communicate the results with the public in an open and transparent manner.
When people are in Montreal, they will see that this signature project is taking shape. We recognize the hard work and determination of all workers to complete the construction of this signature bridge for the greater Montreal area, which will serve bridge users for generations to come.
We thank all those who worked on the project. We look forward to the opening of the bridge, which will take place later this year.