By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

The city of Sherbrooke celebrated a milestone with the official opening of the new Grandes-Fourches Bridge Dec. 20.

Work began on the bridge in August, 2021 and was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2022, but the project was suspended in November of 2021 until funding could be secured for mandatory decontamination work, which significantly increased the cost as well as the timeline to complete the bridge.

New bridge

The Grandes-Fourches Bridge project, long awaited the community, required a total investment of $47.5 million, states a press release. This project was supported by a grant of $26 million from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. The financial breakdown of the project includes $10.3 million for road construction, $10.5 million for the bridge construction, $2.25 million for the demolition of the old bridge, $2 million for preparatory studies, $3.1 million for professional fees including architecture, engineering, and work supervision, $11.1 million for decontamination, and $8.25 million for acquisitions.

A significant aspect of the project involved the demolition of the Terrill Street and Grandes-Fourches North interchange, replaced by a modern roundabout. This change is expected to improve traffic flow and safety in the area.

“I’m proud to tell you that the inauguration of this bridge, of the Grandes Fourches axis, which we hope is the last stage to find a unifying element, is an accomplishment today that marks a new era for our downtown and our future,” Kibonge said.

Emphasizing the bridge’s unique design, resembling an inverted canoe, he expressed pride in this accomplishment, marking a new era for the downtown area. Kibonge elaborated on the broader implications of the project, including the revitalization of the Saint-François River’s banks and the transformation of the city center. He thanked various partners and local businesses for their contributions, emphasizing the project’s local roots and its impact on future generations.

Hébert highlighted the new bridge’s role in integrating safe and friendly modes of transportation like walking and cycling.

“The railway bridge is one of the biggest bearers of our beautiful city and its beautiful rivers. It is a completely unique, historic site full of potential,” Hébert said.

During the question period, the focus shifted to technical aspects and future urban development. Caroline Gravel, Sherbrooke’s Director of Urban Infrastructure Services, answered questions about the project’s current status and future steps.

Gravel addressed a technical question about the impact of changing the bridge’s axis, which has created a new railway crossing. This change delayed the work and there was concern about potential traffic congestion if a train passes during peak hours. Prevention systems are now installed on all level crossings on the link, which are designed to avoid future traffic congestion issues. Gravel elaborated on the functioning of these new preventative barriers, which operate depending on the train’s speed, to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

She outlined the remaining steps to be taken after the bridge’s opening and assured that the work will not block the bridge but will be used minimally for truck traffic.

“There are old ramps that provided access to the old bridge, which need to be removed, along with concrete walls that protected the banks. The agreement we have with the Ministry of the Environment is that we must restore the banks to their natural state, so we have to remove all these structures and not leave them in the landscape,” Gravel explained.