(Quebec) François Legault is moving forward with his third highway link without public transport between Quebec and Lévis, even if the Caisse de dépôt recommended against it. He also gives the go to the first phase of the Quebec tramway, but wants to further study the suggestion of an SRB network in Quebec and Lévis.
The Prime Minister justifies his decision to move forward at all costs with the construction of a new highway link by asserting that the prolonged closure of the Pierre-Laporte bridge would be catastrophic for the region’s economy since 10,500 trucks per day borrow it. No costs or timelines have been announced.
“For reasons of economic security, our government is committed to planning and building a new highway link between Quebec and Lévis. […] Taking a step back, we realize that the issue of economic security is very important. This is why we are changing our decision,” explained the Prime Minister at a press conference on Thursday.
This argument is, however, called into question by federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, who affirmed the day before that the Quebec bridge, of which the federal government is the new owner, could accommodate heavy trucking with the repair of its deck in the event of emergency. This alternative would be less expensive than building a new bridge.
The premier said he did not know and that the issue would need to be studied. “I can’t tell you because this is the first time I’ve heard of this,” he said. He wondered where Mr. Duclos got this information. Mr. Duclos’ office pointed out that the information comes from a study conducted by the CIMA/Tetra Tech consortium, submitted to the Quebec Ministry of Transport in 2016, which highlights that an SRB could use the Quebec Bridge with some modifications.
In its report, the Caisse de dépôt also emphasizes that “opinions are however divided on the preferred solution”. “While many consider the need to build new infrastructure to respond to these challenges, others give priority to securing and optimizing existing infrastructure, without forgetting the development of public and active transportation,” explains the report.
As for a new highway link, the CDPQ advised against it.
Added to this are very real geographical constraints. The insertion of a highway bridge to connect it to Highway 440 from the river requires the construction of a large-scale connection structure to connect it to Highway 440, and this is without taking into account the presence of wetlands and protected areas. The project is also “incompatible with the project to transform the Dufferin-Montmorency highway into an urban boulevard.”
In April, however, the government announced the opposite. “An urban boulevard is sine qua non,” said Minister Jonatan Julien at a press conference. “If we’re not thinking about that, let’s stop working on it, folks. For me, that’s a given,” said the minister, presenting three award-winning concepts following an international competition of ideas to reclassify a strip of land located between the river and the highway over 8.6 km , from Beauport Bay to Chute-Montmorency Park. It is in this sector that a road interchange should be built.
Mr. Julien, who participated in the press conference, affirmed that announcements would be made in due course, but that he still intended to develop this urban boulevard.
On the other hand, the public transport tunnel proposed by the fund “is not one of our priorities,” he said. As for the third highway link, Mr. Legault does not anticipate that it will be used by public transport. He also does not wish to commission studies to assess the economic risks incurred by the closure of the Pierre-Laporte bridge.
