Overview
Induscoat paints and repaints steel bridges, overpasses and walkways in Quebec and Ontario, working from LaSalle, Montreal: blasting under containment, waterway protection, an anti-corrosion system to the owner's specification and recorded inspections, with traffic kept moving or partial lane closures set by the owner's approved plan.
Induscoat paints and repaints steel bridges in Quebec and Ontario, working from LaSalle, Montreal: road and rail bridges, industrial conveyor and pipe bridges, pedestrian walkways and overpasses. We apply the owner's specification, including a public owner's specification such as the transportation ministry's for a road network bridge. Blasting is done under containment selected to SSPC Guide 6, with spent abrasive and paint chips recovered and the waterway protected. Older paint is tested for lead before quoting. The usual system is a zinc-rich primer, an epoxy intermediate and a polyurethane topcoat per ISO 12944, or a maintenance overcoat where the existing paint is still sound. Traffic is maintained or lanes are closed partially, per the approved plan, and dry film thickness is measured to SSPC-PA 2.
What we work on
We paint and repaint steel structures: the load-bearing members and their appurtenances, on new bridges or bridges in service. Bridge painting protects the steel first against water, de-icing salts and humidity from the waterway; appearance comes second. This service is part of our industrial and protective coatings, our core business.
- Steel road bridges: girders, stringers, diaphragms, bracing, orthotropic decks, bearing areas and girder ends under expansion joints.
- Rail bridges: girders, trusses and decks, coordinated with the railway operator.
- Industrial bridges and walkways: conveyor bridges, pipe bridges and access bridges on mine, port and plant sites.
- Pedestrian and cycling bridges, overpasses and interchanges.
- Appurtenances: railings, barriers, utility supports, steel piers and pier caps.
Work is carried out by our crews and qualified subcontractors, under one quote and one inspection file.
Paint systems and when to choose each
The system comes from the owner's specification. When it is still open, it is chosen from the structure's ISO 12944 corrosivity category, which climbs quickly where de-icing salts run off, and from the durability targeted (ISO 12944 explained).
- Zinc-rich primer, epoxy intermediate, polyurethane topcoat: the reference system on blasted steel. Zinc protects the steel galvanically, epoxy forms the barrier, polyurethane holds colour under ultraviolet light (zinc-rich primer).
- Maintenance overcoat: when the existing paint is still well bonded, cleaning, spot repairs and a compatible full coat extend its life without full removal.
- Zone-by-zone repair: girder ends, bearings and areas under joints, the first to rust, are cleaned by power tool or blasting, then repainted.
- Cold galvanizing: touch-up of galvanized members, railings and barriers (cold galvanizing).
The thickness of each coat comes from the specification or the manufacturer's data sheet.
Containment, lead and waterway protection
On a bridge, nothing may fall into the water or onto the road: blasting is done under containment. The enclosure level (tarps, work platforms, a sealed enclosure under negative pressure with dust collection) is chosen to SSPC Guide 6, based on the paint being removed, the method and what lies beneath the structure.
- Recovery of spent abrasive and paint chips, with storage and disposal under the applicable rules.
- Waterway protection: sealed platforms, catch tarps, no wash water released without treatment.
- Air monitoring around the enclosure when the specification calls for it.
Many older bridges carry lead-based paint. It is tested before quoting; if lead is present, removal follows specific containment, worker protection and waste handling measures, through our lead paint removal service.
How a bridge painting project runs
A bridge painting project follows seven steps, from the survey to the close-out file.
- Survey: paint condition by zone, rust, access, what passes under the structure, possible lead.
- Technical quote: method by zone, system coat by coat, containment level, traffic plan, planned inspections.
- Set-up: signage, platforms or lifts, enclosure and waterway protection.
- Preparation: washing to remove salts, then abrasive blasting or power tool cleaning to the specified grade.
- Application: stripe coat on edges, rivets, bolts and welds, then full coats, with dew point monitored.
- Inspection: thickness, appearance, adhesion depending on the system, repairs.
- Demobilization: enclosure removed, waste handled, file handed to the owner.
Inspection, standards and owner requirements
We apply the owner's specification. For a public structure, the owner's specification, for example the transportation ministry's specification for a road network bridge, sets the system, preparation, containment and inspections. We follow its requirements and its site supervision.
- ISO 12944: corrosivity categories and system selection.
- ISO 8501-1 and SSPC/AMPP (SSPC-SP 6, SP 10, SP 3, SP 11): surface preparation grade (NACE No. 2 / SSPC-SP 10 guide).
- ISO 8502: surface cleanliness checks, including soluble salts, before priming.
- SSPC Guide 6: containment of surface preparation debris.
- SSPC-PA 2: dry film thickness measurement (dry film thickness).
The file handed over includes ambient condition and thickness readings, the tests called for in the specification, data sheets, batch numbers and photos. Independent coating inspection can be added.
Site conditions, traffic and safety
A bridge almost always stays in service while it is repainted. These conditions are settled in the quote:
- Traffic maintained: work under the deck or span by span, with signage per the plan approved by the owner.
- Partial closures: one lane at a time, at night or on weekends if needed, within the windows granted.
- Work at height and over water: suspended platforms, lifts, fall protection and water rescue equipment.
- Rail lines: coordination with the operator and compliance with its access rules.
- Winter: heated, ventilated enclosure, or deferral to the warm season for large areas (cold-weather epoxy application).
- Lead: respiratory protection, hygiene and worker monitoring under the applicable rules.
Pricing: by quote
Bridge painting is priced by quote, because the cost depends on the structure far more than on the paint. Six factors drive it:
- The area and shape of the members: a riveted truss takes longer than a plate girder.
- The condition of the existing paint and the presence of lead.
- The containment level and waterway protection.
- Access and the traffic plan: platforms, lifts, lane closures.
- The system and preparation grade required by the specification.
- The work window: season, nights, weekends.
Send photos, approximate dimensions, the location and the specification if there is one with your quote request: we reply within 24 business hours.
Where we work
Induscoat provides bridge painting across Quebec and Ontario, working from LaSalle, with mobile crews on planned trips:
- Montreal and Montérégie
- Quebec, for the province as a whole, and Quebec City
- Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Côte-Nord
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec
- Ontario
When this service is not the right answer
Paint does not restore lost strength. If blasting reveals thinned sections, attacked rivets or welds, or metal loss at bearings, we stop and show you the condition: the next step is a structural assessment by a specialist retained by the owner and a repair, before any repainting (maintenance and rehabilitation).
For a building frame, a conveyor or a pipe rack that crosses no road or waterway, the steel structure painting page is the right reference. Concrete piers and abutments fall under concrete protection. We do not paint residential structures.
Typical Applications
- Repainting of steel road bridges and overpasses with traffic maintained
- Painting of rail bridges, trusses and decks coordinated with the operator
- Painting of industrial conveyor bridges, pipe bridges and access bridges
- Bridge sandblasting under containment over waterways and roads
Typical Problems We Solve
- Rust at girder ends, bearings and under leaking expansion joints
- Blistering paint caused by de-icing salts left on the steel
- Old lead-based paint on structures over water or public roads
- Repainting that must not close the bridge to traffic
What You Receive
- Condition survey by zone with lead testing of the existing paint
- Technical quote stating the method by zone, the system coat by coat, containment and traffic plan
- Dry film thickness readings per SSPC-PA 2, ambient condition logs and surface cleanliness checks
- Close-out file with data sheets, batch numbers, waste records and before and after photos
Timeline
Set in the quote according to surface area, condition by zone, containment, the traffic plan and the season. Quote sent within 24 business hours of receiving photos and dimensions.
Standards & Certifications
- ISO 12944: corrosivity categories and paint system selection
- SSPC Guide 6: containment of surface preparation debris
- SSPC-SP 10 / NACE No. 2 and SSPC-SP 6 / NACE No. 3: blast cleaning grades
- SSPC-PA 2: dry film thickness measurement
Industries We Serve
- Public owners: road bridges, overpasses and walkways
- Rail: rail bridges and trusses
- Mining and ports: conveyor bridges and access bridges
- Industrial plants: pipe bridges and overhead walkways
Service FAQ
Can a bridge be repainted without closing it?
Usually yes. Work is done under the deck or span by span, with traffic maintained and signage per the plan approved by the owner. Some steps require partial lane closures, often at night or on weekends, within the windows the owner grants.
How is the waterway protected during bridge sandblasting?
With containment selected to SSPC Guide 6: sealed work platforms, tarps and, where needed, an enclosure under negative pressure with dust collection. Spent abrasive and paint chips are recovered, stored and disposed of under the applicable rules, and no wash water is released without treatment.
What if the bridge paint contains lead?
It is tested before quoting. If lead is present, removal is done under a tighter containment, with worker protection, air monitoring when specified and waste handling, through our lead paint removal service. Repainting then proceeds on clean steel under the same file.
Do you follow the transportation ministry's specification?
We apply the owner's specification, whatever it is. For a road network bridge, that is the public owner's specification, which sets the system, preparation, containment and inspections. We work under its site supervision and hand over the records it requires.
How much does bridge painting cost?
Pricing is by quote. It depends on the area and shape of the members, the existing paint and lead, the containment level, access and the traffic plan, the specified system and the work window. Send photos, approximate dimensions, the location and the specification: we send a quote within 24 business hours.
Technical guides
Related applications
Concrete industrial use cases where this service is applied.
Other Services
Areas we serve
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Quebec
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Montreal
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Ontario
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Industrial coatings and maintenance on the Côte-Nord
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Mauricie and Centre-du-Québec
- Industrial coatings and maintenance in Montérégie