By Ruby Pratka
Local Journalism Initiative
On Sept. 3, federal minister of housing, infrastructure and communities Gregor Robertson, Quebec Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault, Brome-Missisquoi MP Louis Villeneuve and Brome-Missisquoi MNA Isabelle Charest announced the opening of the last stretch of the planned expansion of Highway 35, between Saint-Sébastien and Saint-Armand. The highway expansion had been in the works for several years, and while several elected officials the BCN has spoken to about the project over the years were worried about its impact on agricultural land and local businesses, they were also eager to welcome the highway.
“With the completion of this important milestone, the mobility of people and goods between Quebec and the United States will be facilitated. In addition, road safety and the quality of life for residents along Route 133 will be improved, as trucks will be able to use this new, faster route,” Guilbault and Robertson said in a joint statement. “Phase III of this major project, which spans 8.9 km, includes numerous road infrastructure projects as well as a major environmental compensation plan. This plan has led to the creation of one hectare of wetlands and four hectares of fish habitat, as well as the reforestation of over 24 hectares of forest, through the planting of 35,000 trees, and the protection of 75 hectares of land of high ecological value. The total cost of its implementation is $222.9 million, which includes a financial contribution of $82.1 million from the federal government through the New Building Canada Fund 2014-2024.”
In terms of infrastructure, the project included the extension of Highway 35 over a distance of 8.9 km between Saint-Sébastien and Saint-Armand, with two lanes in each direction on divided roadways; the construction of a 400-metre bridge over the Pike River; the construction of an interchange and an overpass at the junction of Highway 35, Champlain Road and Route 133, in Saint-Armand; the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Route 133 and Champlain and du Moulin Roads, in Saint-Armand and the construction of an overpass (extension of Route 202) over Highway 35 in Pike River. The reforestation project is located between the highway right-of-way and the Pike River in the municipalities of Pike River and Saint-Armand.
“The opening of the final section of Highway 35 is a big step for Brome-Missisquoi. It will make our roads smoother and safer, and it will also give a major boost to our local economy and the quality of life of our residents. I’m proud to see our community benefit from a project that’s moving forward while respecting the environment,” Villeneuve said in a statement. “Thank you to all the partners who worked together to make this a reality.”
Pike River mayor Martin Bellefroid and St-Armand mayor Caroline Rosetti had not responded to requests for comment by press time, although the municipality of Pike River celebrated “good news!” on its social media feeds.