Quebec is one of the world’s hubs for aluminum exploitation. WSP has expertise and dedicates an entire team to the design of bridges integrating this metal with circular properties. A look toward the future with Benoit Cusson, designer of works of art within the Quebec firm.
WSP supports clients in the construction of their infrastructures. As a designer, my role is focused on the design portion. I am also vice-president of the aluminum bridge chapter of the Canadian Highway Bridge Standard.
In 2017, we designed the Hall and Wellington footbridges on the Lachine Canal. We want to design for the future and sustainably. These two structures are a perfect embodiment of this vision. They required a lot of research and innovation and in a way launched our expertise in the aluminum niche.
Some contractors wish to receive recommendations in their calls for tenders. Others specify the materials to be recommended, in particular steel and concrete. However, we believe that the time has come to systematically include aluminum among the materials to be considered. Even if this is not the option chosen, it should be studied.
Decision-makers often make construction cost the main decision-making criterion. However, the two most relevant criteria are the environmental impact, for which aluminum stands out, and the total cost of ownership, that is to say construction costs added to maintenance costs. Aluminum does not rust, so it requires no maintenance. It is also very light, which reduces the load transferred to the foundations and gives a better lifespan.
Recent projects confirm that when it comes to total cost of ownership, aluminum often wins. The lifespan of a bridge is approximately 75 years. We must therefore ask ourselves the question: are we the ones who should pay for our infrastructure or our children? Do we want to pass the bill on to future generations or make more responsible choices?
Among other things, yes. I can particularly attest to its socio-economic circularity. During a project visit, a welder once thanked me warmly for choosing aluminum for the walkway he was building because it brought work to his home. This metal is produced here, we transform it here, we can use it in our local infrastructures and, finally, recycle it here. Ultimately, it makes everyone work.
One of the opportunities for the future is to replace concrete bridge decks with aluminum decks. We have just designed the first road bridge of its kind in Canada, the welding of which is carried out here. The structure located in the Montmorency forest is being manufactured in Quebec and will be open to traffic in 2024. It proves that the technology is mature and that we are ready to carry out this type of large-scale project. Today there is a real “momentum” around aluminum, but contractors must take the turn!