MONTREAL - The federal government has received a report on the state of Montreal's Champlain Bridge but isn't releasing it lest it alarm the public.

Commuters and suburban mayors have expressed concern about the safety of the bridge -- one of the main links to Montreal island, which needs significant repairs.

Federal Transport Minister Denis Lebel says what's most important is the actual work to be done on the bridge, not the report.

He says he's concerned that unqualified people might misinterpret the information in the report and create unnecessary fears.

He hasn't ruled out any future options for restoring the bridge such as public-private partnerships but won't put a timetable on when those decisions will be made.