A significant new transportation link is being proposed near downtown Quebec City, receiving high ratings from the Ministry of Transport. Solidarity member Etienne Grandmont revealed maps of potential tunnels and bridges, highlighting a favored tunnel beneath Cap Blanc, despite its low evaluation score due to environmental and cost concerns. Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault defends the project, emphasizing ongoing studies and the necessity of the third link alongside a tramway, while critiquing political opposition.
The Third Link Project: A Promising Development for Quebec City
A new connection is taking shape near downtown Quebec City, which has garnered the highest rating in a recent analysis by the Ministry of Transport, as stated by Solidarity member Etienne Grandmont. This claim has not been disputed by the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault.
During the question period in Quebec on Wednesday, Grandmont unveiled maps showcasing various tunnel and bridge proposals currently under consideration by the Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ). The Solidarity party asserts that it has accessed internal documents revealing potential route scenarios for the third link project between Quebec City and Lévis. According to Grandmont, a tunnel that would run beneath Cap Blanc has received the most favorable assessment from officials.
Evaluation of the Proposed Tunnel
There exists an internal evaluation framework that scores each corridor being studied. Grandmont claims that this framework indicates that the tunnel scenario under Cap Blanc and beneath downtown Quebec City and Lévis is the top-rated option.
However, Grandmont also notes that this proposal would not meet a passing threshold, rating below 60%. This low score is attributed to concerns regarding environmental impacts, project costs, and urban planning challenges. The estimated length of the tunnel would be between 12 to 13 kilometers, with projected costs ranging from 15 to 20 billion dollars.
“What I’m told is that among all the scenarios under review, the central option gets the best rating,” he stated, while also admitting he lacks comprehensive information about the overall project.
Grandmont emphasizes that Cap Blanc is recognized as a UNESCO heritage site, expressing skepticism about the government’s plans to construct a tunnel or bridge that would lead directly to the Old Port. Although he opposes the third link, he criticizes the project’s lack of transparency, labeling it as expensive, poorly rated, and unjustified. He stands by the authenticity of the documents he’s referenced, asserting that his source is credible.
Moreover, he points out the inconsistency in Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault’s stance, noting her initial opposition to the third link in 2023 before she later revived discussions surrounding it.
In response, Guilbault has not challenged the legitimacy of the plans revealed by Grandmont during the National Assembly. Instead, she has focused her criticism on her political rivals, referring to them as the “anti-third link squad.” The Minister of Transport claims that there is nothing particularly new about the information presented, emphasizing that a report by Caisse de dépôt et placement Infra was made public last June, detailing various route studies.
“It is public information. The MP has access to it. The report includes a section on the third link and features a map with different corridors. We are in the process of completing studies and analyses, and by this summer, we will announce our decision on the route for the future third link,” she asserted. “We require the third link and the tramway to advance simultaneously.” Additionally, her office communicated that “experts are currently conducting analyses” on several different routes.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these discussions will shape the future of transportation in Quebec City and Lévis.