Quebec Ministry of Transport overseeing overpass construction

General contractor Construction Grenier Ltd is relegated to the role of builder. However, spokesperson Fadi Moubayed specifies that the ministry has not altered its general policy in these matters. The head of the Laval-Mille-Îles division of the Transport Ministry points out that it's only in rare cases that the government takes control. "We assume control of some projects to keep our hand in the process, or in cases where time is of the essence," says the engineer, adding that the 1969 scenario, in which the design and supervision were delegated by the ministry to a general contractor, is still the prevailing practice of the day.

The delicate matter of the supervision was brought to light in the last few weeks at the public hearings of the Johnson Commission inquiring into the collapse of the Concorde overpass last September.

It's still unclear as to the chain of command that prevailed 37 years ago involving the responsibilities of the ministry, the consulting engineers, the general contractor and the sub-contractors in the building of the Concorde overpass.

(Photo: Martin Alarie)