The mayoress of Lac-Mégantic, in the Eastern Townships, said Thursday that the poll conducted by residents of Lac-Mégantic, which revealed that 70% of them were against the bypass project, is not a reflection of the opinion of the majority of the population.
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A few hundred citizens impacted by the route had expressed their dissatisfaction last Sunday, giving reason for this sounding.
The municipality of Frontenac had also withdrawn its support for the project due to numerous concerns, particularly with regard to the impacts on the water table and the quality of drinking water.
If Frontenac preferred the half-bypass option so that it runs along Route 161 to join the Lac-Mégantic industrial park storage lane and then connects to the current lane.
But for the mayor of Lac-Mégantic, Julie Morin, this option is not one.
Transport Canada must communicate to the mayors the report on the impacts of the future bypass on the environment and the water table on August 8th.
A public consultation will then be held to answer citizens’ questions and concerns.
But one thing is certain, the government wants construction to begin in 2023, as soon as Ottawa receives authorization from the Canadian Transportation Agency, according to Daniel Gendron, mayor of Nantes.