The Quebec Bridge, the longest cantilever steel railway bridge in the world, is a riveted steel structure with an overall length of 3,239 feet, width of 94 feet and height of 340 feet above water. It includes one rail line, two pedestrian walkways and three car lanes.

Due to the complexity of the structure and the wind loading limits, a negative air system and abrasive blasting would have cost approximately $250,000,000.

By using selective water washing/water jetting followed by an overcoat system, Termarust Technologies was able to substantially reduce these costs by approximately $108,000,000 on the Quebec Bridge project.

A savings of $142,000,000!

Pack rust between plates and weeping joints are an anathema to a completed coatings application, however, our Termarust (RAVCS^®) Coatings contain and control these structural problems and Termarust Technologies is the only coating manufacture that warranties joint leakage for five-years.

Structure History:

Initial construction commenced 1900.

August 29, 1907:

Due to design changes during construction that significantly increased the weight of the structure, the South Anchor Arm and a portion of the Center Span failed catastrophically.

September 1916:

While being raised into position, the pre-fabricated center span fell.

September 1917:

The second Quebec Bridge was completed at a total cost of $25 million.

1919: 

Structure was completed and considered “The Eighth Wonder of the World”.

1987: 

Canadian and American Society of Civil Engineers declared the Quebec Bridge an Historical Monument.

January 24, 1996: 

The Department of Canadian Heritage declared the Quebec Bridge a National Historic Site.

Scope of Current Work:

Canadian National (CN) originally set aside $60 Million as the reclamation budget for the entire structure. The first phase of the work, one-half of the South Arm and Portal, began in April 1999.
   

Three Ongoing Major Projects:

To avoid work sequencing conflicts, the steel erector's work started at the opposite end of the South Arm.

Ongoing projects:

1. Steel Repairs
2. Illumination
3. Surface preparation and overcoat:

• Termarust 2200 (RAVCS^®) Penetrant Sealer applied to all pack rusted joints and connections.
• Termarust 2100 (RAVCS^®) Primer/Topcoat is used to overcoat the existing aged Red Lead Alkyd.

Water-jetting at 40,000 psi as part of surface preparation on a steel structure.