Bike path on Jacques-Cartier Bridge closed until further notice

The bike path on the Jacques-Cartier Bridge is closed until further notice due to incomplete waterproofing work. 

According to a brief statement from the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), that work was carried out this past weekend on the multipurpose path but it "requires additional steps."

"Every effort is being made to reopen the path as soon as possible," the statement reads. "We regret any inconvenience users may experience as a result of this closure."

Radio-Canada has reported at least two incidents involving cyclists either injuring themselves or struggling with the bike path due to slipperiness, but JCCBI's statement did not make any mention of possible injuries.

Sébastien Portebois says his partner will need to six to eight weeks to recover from a pelvic fracture after falling off her bike. He says he also could have been hurt.

Slippery path

"On the first stretch where you're coming down, before Île Sainte-Hélène, the path became very slippery. I started to skid even though it was a straight line," Portebois told Radio-Canada in an interview, adding that he saw several cyclists struggling with the slippery pathway.

Ismaël Ulvik Péladeau also took a tumble while biking across the bridge toward the South Shore on Saturday.

"It was pretty scary and very surprising," he said.

As he reached an area along the path where he had to slow down, his brakes weren't working, Peladeau said.

"I looked on the ground and I saw what I thought was ice," he said. "And I could see my back wheel sliding and I panicked a little bit. I tried to brake again. It wasn't working."

He hit the gate and was thrown to the ground, he said, suffering bruises from the fall. His bike's handlebars were also broken.

CBC News has reached out to the bridge corporation for comment and is waiting to hear back. 

The sidewalk will remain open while work on the bike path is carried out.