Papineau-Leblanc Bridge, Cable-stayed bridge across Rivière des Prairies between Montreal and Laval, Canada.
The Papineau-Leblanc Bridge is a cable-stayed structure crossing the Rivière des Prairies between Montreal and Laval. It carries six lanes of traffic and features a main span of 241 meters (791 ft) without intermediate supports.
Built in 1969, this was one of the first cable-stayed bridges constructed in North America. Its innovative use of steel cables and an orthotropic deck design set it apart as a pioneering structure.
The bridge takes its name from Avenue Papineau in Montreal and Alpha Leblanc, a local landowner from Laval whose property was needed for the highway project. This dual naming reflects the partnership between the two communities.
The bridge forms part of Autoroute 19, connecting Boulevard Henri Bourassa in Montreal to Laval. It is accessible from both sides and open to regular traffic throughout the day.
The bridge deck was built using weathering steel, a material that rusts to form a protective coating without paint. This choice allowed for a lower-maintenance structure and was a notable engineering decision at the time.
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