The Legault government is now arguing that a third link is essential for reasons of “economic security” in the event that the Pierre-Laporte bridge should close, since it is the only one to allow the transport of goods.
“By taking a step back, we realize that the issue of economic security is very important,” declared François Legault during a press briefing on Thursday.
He also pointed out that 10,500 trucks passed through this bridge every day and that, in the event of the closure of the Pierre-Laporte Bridge, they would have to go to Trois-Rivières to cross the river.
“It is not impossible” that the Pierre-Laporte bridge will have to close, declared the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault.
Citing the example of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge and the delays in the construction of the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine bridge-tunnel, Mr.me Guilbault and Mr. Legault argued that we are never safe from unforeseen events.
Renovate the deck of the Quebec Bridge
However, federal Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has suggested in recent hours that it would be possible to renovate the deck of the Quebec bridge to allow trucks to travel on it. Questioned on this several times, Mr. Legault said he was not aware of it and did not seem to take the proposal seriously. “We are going to look at this new discovery by Mr. Duclos,” he said.
The government has also confirmed its intention to move forward with the 5.3 billion tramway portion of the CITÉ network project presented Wednesday by the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) — Infra. “We buy this route and we commit to doing this,” said the Prime Minister.
On Wednesday, the CDPQ unveiled its “CITÉ Plan”, which recommends a tram project, a rapid bus system, reserved lanes and a tunnel under the river between Quebec and Lévis, but which would only be reserved for a tram line.
The whole thing would cost $15.5 billion over 15 years.
Furthermore, according to the CDPQ, nothing justifies from a mobility point of view the construction of a third highway link, in particular because it would only shift congestion and would only bring marginal time savings for motorists. .
More details will follow.
With The Canadian Press