Peter Black 

April 24, 2024

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com 

There will be a new bridge to Île d’Orléans as of 2028 at an estimated cost of $2.79 billion, according to a plan the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government released last week.

The new bridge would replace the existing one built in 1935 which, while officials assure it is still safe, does not conform to modern standards. The government awarded the contract to a consortium called Groupe Heritage Île d’Orléans, one of two bidders for the project.

Deputy premier and Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault, in making the April 16 announcement, noted one of the challenges of building the new span: “The new Île d’Orléans bridge is a unique project, in an extremely fragile environment. Every detail of the project is thought out in this sense. This is also why a cable-stayed bridge is built. This is the best solution to respect the environment and cultural heritage.”

The bridge will be just over two kilometres long and have one lane in each direction with wide shoulders, paths for pedestrians and bicycles on both sides, as well as lookouts.  

The new bridge is to be built about 120 metres to the west of the current structure, which will be demolished.

A new bridge for the island had been proposed in 2015 by the previous Liberal government. When the CAQ came to power in 2018, it adopted the notion, initially estimating the cost at about $500 million. 

Guilbault acknowledged the cost was high, due in part to delays in moving forward with the project, but said the government had no choice in the matter.

Jonatan Julien, the minister of infrastructure and minister responsible for the Quebec capital region, said in a press release, “Agricultural and tourist activities on the island will be boosted. They will contribute to the socioeconomic development of the MRC of L’Île-d’Orléans and the Capitale-Nationale.” 

While municipal officials on the island lauded the decision, there was negative reaction from other quarters. 

Lévis Mayor Gilles Lehouillier, a staunch proponent of a third link across the St. Lawrence River, told TVA after the announcement that it is  “unimaginable that we would submit a project like that to the population … without an overall vision” and without waiting for the conclusions of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) Infra which is studying the transportation needs of the region.”

He said, “The disappointment among the population does not diminish in the face of what is happening: for the tram, the cross-river link and the Île d’Orléans bridge. The disappointment of the population of Quebec City and Chaudière-Appalaches is enormous.”

Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand said in a Radio-Canada interview that he was surprised at the price of the bridge, but it’s “a classic case of what happens when you wait too long” to get a project underway. He said he agrees a new bridge to the island is needed, but hopes the money is still there for the city’s tramway project.

Perhaps the harshest criticism came from Quebec Conservative Party Leader Éric Duhaime, who has been advocating a third link to the South Shore passing across Île d’Orléans.

Duhaime said in a release that he thought it “insane” to spend “$2.7 billion for the Île-d’Orleans bridge, which was initially expected to cost around $500 million, in order to serve a population of 7,082 people.”

Duhaime said the CAQ government is “announcing very bad news, poorly planned, without vision, not broad enough, too expensive. Why the rush when the Caisse will submit its report on the third link within two months?”

The CAQ government commissioned the Caisse report in November in reaction to the new $10-billion estimate to build Quebec City’s tramway system. The Caisse was mandated to study the overall transit needs of the city, including a possible new bridge or tunnel between the two sides of the river. 

   30 

IMAGES BELOW 

This cross-section image of the proposed bridge shows two lanes for motorized traffic and paths on both sides for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Image from Quebec government.

The new bridge to Île d’Orléans will be two kilometres long and cost at least $2.8 billion. 

This view is looking towards Beauport and Montmorency Falls. 

Image from Quebec government.