It will consist of two tubes and will pass under the river between Quebec and Lévis: this is about all that is known for the moment of the third link of the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ). On Friday, François Legault’s party again refused to detail the project, despite the electoral campaign in full swing.
“Necessary” because of the “hellish” wait suffered on the two existing bridges, according to the CAQ candidate in Lévis, Bernard Drainville, the tunnel will be the subject of updated studies, assures the CAQ. “It’s moving forward,” said the former radio host, during a press briefing organized just in front of downtown Quebec City, on the other side.
“I agree, it takes study. But I’ll tell you a deal: the expectation that we live, it does not need to be studied, ”launched the star candidate on Friday. “The expectation that we are currently experiencing in the greater Quebec City region is not abstract,” he added.
Asked several times about his intentions to detail the project by the end of the electoral period, the head of the caquiste, François Legault, refused to answer on Friday.
“Let go of me with the GHGs!” »
The Ministère des Transports du Québec is currently carrying out exploratory drilling, which should be used to launch the project notice for the third link. However, it is already certain that the environmental assessment will not be launched before 2023. Mr. Drainville pleads despite everything that the Quebec-Lévis tunnel will not affect the environment. “It is electric vehicles that will take it, more and more, hammered the Lévis candidate. Make that loose me with the GES [gaz à effets de serre] ! »
A few hundred kilometers away, in Gaspésie, the co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois jumped when he heard Mr. Drainville’s remarks on Friday. “It seems to me a good illustration of the importance of the climate crisis for François Legault’s team,” he said.
He accuses the CAQ of asking Quebecers for a blank check.
“It’s still spectacular that the party that calls itself the party of the economy — capital E, please — promises to spend billions of dollars on a project and doesn’t want to tell Quebecers what it’s going to be. , this project,” he added.
According to the latest news, the bill for the CAQ tunnel is valued at $6.5 billion. The “bitube” – which would be made up of two two-way tubes – should be put into service in 2032. “Is there a need? We think there is a need, ”defended the head of the CAQ, François Legault, on Friday. And this, although there is “more teleworking” than before, he agrees.
“Our intention is to carry out the project as quickly as possible,” continued Mr. Legault.