It was a real open secret, and it is now confirmed: after 115 years of existence in Rivière-du-Loup, the ferry will head to Cacouna in 2028. Deputy Prime Minister Geneviève Guilbault made it the announcement this Thursday, December 19 at the Hôtel Levesque in Rivière-du-Loup.
Flanked by the Member of Parliament for Rivière-du-Loup – Témiscouata, Amélie Dionne and the CEO of the Société des traversiers du Québec (STQ), Greta Bédard, in front of numerous media representatives, local elected officials and socio-economic stakeholders, Ms. Guilbault announced investments of $170.5 million to build new facilities at the Gros-Cacouna seaport.
>> ALSO READ: Deep disappointment in Rivière-du-Loup regarding the moving of the ferry
The new home port of the ferry will be located to the northeast of the wharf, on the side of the cliff. The project schedule provides for the full commissioning of the STQ infrastructure from March 2031, but temporary installations should already allow the crossing to be installed there from June 2028, after the end of the contract with the Clarke company.
The STQ justifies the option chosen based on the results of an opportunity study carried out more than a year ago. It indicates that the Cacouna basin is “calm and protected” from weather conditions, that sedimentation rates are “known and acceptable” for the elimination of recurring dredging and that there is “flexible space” for integration. land developments.
She adds that the port has a “favorable configuration” to offer an extension of the service and that there is “strong development potential”.
Above all, adds the STQ, the construction costs are much lower and the anticipated duration of the work (18 months in Cacouna compared to 48 months in Rivière-du-Loup) will reduce the period of operation on the temporary installations.
“Costs must be taken into account. People’s ability to pay must be taken into account. This is a very important factor,” underlined Minister Guilbault, referring to an “emotional”, “difficult” and “heartbreaking” issue. “It is the most responsible decision, the most logical and the one which offers great possibilities,” she added.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
The ministry maintains that maintaining the crossing at Rivière-du-Loup would have generated costs of $665 million compared to $170.5 million. However, operating costs in Cacouna over a period of 25 years will be slightly higher in Cacouna than in Rivière-du-Loup at $304 million compared to $285 million. The total cost of maintaining the crossing at Rivière-du-Loup is therefore estimated at $950 million compared to $475 million at Cacouna.
A third option, this time on the southwest side of Gros-Cacouna, was also considered. It turns out to be only $1.5 million more expensive than the site chosen at the foot of the cliff. The costs are $172 million for fees over 25 years of $304 million.
At a press conference, Amélie Dionne, Member of Parliament for Rivière-du-Loup – Témiscouata, reiterated several times that her goal was to ensure the sustainability and development of the Rivière-du-Loup crossing. In this sense, “the decision to build new facilities at the port of Gros-Cacouna will guarantee reliable, predictable and safe service in the long term.”
This choice, according to the STQ and the Quebec government, will also help extend the navigation season. If the STQ did not wish to move forward on a possible year-round crossing, preferring to talk about an extension into the winter season, Minister Guilbault was more direct and affirmative in the press communication.
Note that it is the Saaremaa I which will ensure the connection between Cacouna and Saint-Siméon. It is a “modern ferry” which has a “greater capacity” than the NM Trans St-Laurent – judged to be at the end of its life – and whose reinforced hull will allow navigation “in the ice”. This ship, used by the STQ to take over from the NM FA Gauthier, has long been expected to take over at Rivière-du-Loup.
A crossing between Cacouna and Saint-Siméon would last 85 minutes, compared to 60 minutes for Rivière-du-Loup-Saint-Siméon. Despite everything, the STQ believes that the service offering will not be reduced on a daily basis. It could even be improved.
AND RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP?
In Rivière-du-Loup, only one scenario was studied as part of the opportunity file, which was commissioned about four years ago now. It consists of extending the current quay over a distance of half a kilometer.
“Due to the non-competent (solid) soils, the wharf had to be very long and built on piles from the old commercial wharf. As it is necessary to find the depth of water necessary to reduce the impacts of dredging and counter the issues of silting, the infrastructures had to be built on 835 piles,” described Greta Bédard, CEO of the STQ.
She maintained that the initial issue was never to relocate the Rivière-du-Loup crossing. However, she explained that the “very rapid” rate of silting up of the site posed a real problem for the sustainability of the ferry. We find in Rivière-du-Loup, she said, enormous constraints.
In return, in Cacouna, the water level is already suitable for operations, which allows smaller-scale work, it was said. Ultimately, in 2031, the new dock will include a loading and unloading ramp as well as a waiting area. In addition, it will house a river station certified according to LEED sustainability standards, it was specified.
CALL FOR INTEREST
As for the call for interest launched in January 2024 to see if a private operator would be able to offer the ferry service, it was inconclusive, according to the Ministry of Transport of Quebec.
In a report submitted in June, a committee of experts concluded “that no proposal provided assurance that the market would be able to respond satisfactorily to the needs expressed in the call for interest”.
However, just a few weeks ago, the CEO of the CTMA, Emmanuel Aucoin, judged that he had submitted a turnkey project to the government. Without commenting on the experts’ conclusions, he considered that the work carried out was interesting. He even purchased a ship to ensure an easy transition to Rivière-du-Loup.
Note that the report on the call for interest is confidential and that the results and explanations are redacted.
“I wanted to make the best decision to ensure [l’avenir de la traverse] and resolve this issue which has actually been dragging on for [trop] a long time. […] I heard your concerns, I listened to you, we were given solutions, but as Geneviève explains, there has been no conclusive solution that has come out of the studies over the last two years,” said Amélie. Dionne to those present.
In recent weeks, Ms. Dionne and her government have been accused of lacking courage on this issue. However, this is not the case, decided Geneviève Guilbault, coming to the defense of her colleague. She maintained that the latter “worked day and night” and that she “turned over all the stones” in order to find a solution.
She also launched a barely veiled arrow at MP Denis Tardif, without naming him, maintaining that his administration did not postpone the decision as was done before.
COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS
Among the compensation efforts for Rivière-du-Loup, the speakers announced the establishment of a development committee led by Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent as well as an envelope which should make it possible to support various projects. The stated goal is to collaborate closely with residents, local businesses and municipal authorities in order to revitalize the Pointe de Rivière-du-Loup sector.
This committee should focus on modernizing existing infrastructure, improving accessibility and promoting local development. Amélie Dionne wants the transition to involve the business community, which has not hidden its fear of suffering significant negative impacts with the departure of the ferry.
This proposal was, however, received with resignation by the business people present who feel that they now have the burden of finding a solution at the start of the crossing.
Questioned by journalists, Ms. Dionne also assured that a budget was agreed and allocated. However, she refused to reveal its content, not wishing to “put the cart before the horse”.
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