Guilbault agrees that trucks could “theoretically” use the Quebec bridge

Minister Guilbault agrees that trucks could “theoretically” use the Quebec bridge, but raises “load capacity” issues, contradicting the federal company that owns the infrastructure.

• Also read: The Quebec Bridge has the carrying capacity to accommodate the transport of goods

• Also read: International call: strong interest from firms for the third link between Quebec and Lévis

During a press scrum in parliament on Wednesday, the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Geneviève Guilbault, acknowledged that the Quebec Bridge could accommodate heavy traffic. “I have already demonstrated that although theoretically it could be possible, it requires such complicated work.”

The minister, on the other hand, mentioned technical and capacity complications. “There are currently three lanes on the Quebec Bridge. Trucks are big and heavy. We could also end up with just two lanes on the Quebec Bridge, which would ultimately reduce the possibilities. And not to mention the load capacity.”

Bearing capacity

This contradicts the position of the federal company Les Ponts Jacques Cartier et Champlain Incorporée (PJCCI), which is the new owner of the structure. Last week, its first manager, Sandra Martel, affirmed that “according to the information we currently have, we do not have an issue with the capacity of the bridge. The bearing capacity studies that we carry out are with trucking loads. The capacity of the bridge is correct.

The Legault government has often stated that the third link is necessary. Since June, he has justified his point by saying that in the event of a prolonged closure of the Pierre-Laporte bridge, the “economic security” of the Quebec region and all of Eastern Quebec would be compromised because the Quebec bridge cannot accommodate freight transport and that heavy goods vehicles would therefore be forced to make a long detour via Trois-Rivières to cross the river.

Ms. Guilbault is not surprised that the question of the bearing capacity of the Quebec bridge is brought “cyclically” back into the news by the federal Liberal MP for Quebec and Minister of Supply, Jean-Yves Duclos. “Mr. Duclos and the current federal government are opposed to the third link in Quebec so it should not be surprising that they find arguments against the third link.

Call of international interest

Last week, we learned that many firms showed interest in the international call for interest launched by the Legault government for the creation of a third link. The minister indicated on Wednesday that she will give a report very soon and that “the results are very interesting and encouraging”.

— With the collaboration of Patrick Bellerose, Parliamentary Office