Even if they are less severe than anticipated, the repercussions of the new obstructions at the head of the Quebec City bridges are causing some headaches for motorists, who have to deal with a busier evening rush hour.
The Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ) announced ten days ago the closure of the ramp between Champlain Boulevard and the Henri-IV South highway from August 14 to September 2, maximum.
Vehicles must make a detour via Avenue des Hôtels, before taking Boulevard Laurier and then take the Route 175 interchange which will take them south on Henri-IV.
Heavy traffic
These new barriers are whetting the patience of road users who pass through the area on a daily basis.
The work hasn’t caused massive congestion so far, but the fact remains that it “adds a layer to the already difficult traffic” in an area where “there are a lot of big construction sites” , notes Luc Selesse, spokesperson for Taxi Coop, in Quebec.
“You want to ride Henri-IV and you james on [le boulevard du] North side. […] It’s problematic everywhere, everywhere to provide service [à nos clients] “, he added, recalling that” our way of the cross is not finished “on Henri-IV.
“During the evening rush hour, that is to say between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., traffic is denser on Champlain Boulevard towards Saint-Louis Road,” confirms MTQ spokesperson Émilie Sir.
However, she recalls that the work will end “as soon as possible” and that a police presence at the intersection of Chemin Saint-Louis and Avenue des Hôtels makes it possible to “facilitate traffic in the sector”.
Caught in traffic
The same observation is made at Med Express, a company specializing in express delivery. Its owner and general manager, Stéphane Boudreau, saw it himself recently. “Of course, at the end of the day, yes, we notice it. […] A driver who has to leave from the north shore to do a contract on the south shore, well that becomes more complex. »
Mr. Boudreau points out that all of this is happening as the new school year is upon us, which does not bode well. “The more it advances, the more it goes [s’]amplify,” he says.
The newspaper had the same story from a transportation company in the region, where there is a report of a rush hour that starts earlier, in recent days.
“It really got more difficult at the end of the day. Our drivers are caught up in this, ”claimed the man, who preferred not to be identified.