Roadwork begins today on Highway 132 bridge in the Gasp

Repairs to the bridge crossing over theGrandCascapdiaRiveron Highway 132, on the Gasp peninsula, will begin on Monday, nearly five months after it was closed to traffic.

Officials closed the bridge back in May during heavy spring flooding, when oneof the support pillars which stands in the rivertilted away from the bridge and caused a significant dip in the road way.

Residents, tourists and heavy truckshave sincebeen forced to make an 11.5-kilometre detour to travel between New Richmond and Maria.

• Detour due to bridge closure in the Gasp nearly costs lives of mother, baby

The Quebec Ministry of Transport has awarded the $6.2 million contract to a local engineering firm, Sani-Sable L.B.

The work is expected to last until June 2018.

New detour for residents

Vehicles heading west towards Mariawill take a new routeas of Oct. 9.

The Ministry of Transport says this will ease traffic on MacKayRoad, the existing detour that was used all summer.

''Westbound traffic will be redirected towardsmunicipal roads while motorists going east will follow MacKayroad,'' said spokesperson AlexandreBougie.

Bougie said another $1.6 million contract was awarded to complete paving work on this new detour.