The next step to replace the Champlain bridge was announced today.

Federal transport minister Denis Lebel was in Montreal to say that proposals will be soon accepted for a causeway that will replace the Nun's Island Bridge.

Experts recommended demolisihing the bridge sooner rather than later. In the mean time, a temporary causeway will take its place. 

The 500m causeway will be built parallel to the bridge, with three lanes on each side. The water is shallow, at around 3 metres, and boats do not pass through the water at this point in river. 

The causeway will be at almost the same height as the bridge. It is slated to open by 2015, with construction beginning as early as the end of 2013. 

Lebel said that the impact on traffic would be minimal. Glen Carlin, head of the Champlain bridge Corporation, said most of the work would take place in the water, with shifts set up at night and on wekends.

Three nearby overpasses will also be replaced. Eventually, the causeway would be replaced by the new Champlain bridge, which as of yet does not have a name.

Carlin estimated that the cost of the causeway could be more than $50 million.