Without wanting to specify how much the purchase of the Quebec Bridge cost, federal minister Jean-Yves Duclos promises that the transaction concluded with the Canadian National (CN) railway company constitutes an “excellent deal”.
“You will see to what extent,” added Minister Duclos, maintaining the suspense on Thursday over the amount of the bill that taxpayers will have to cover to update the first link between Quebec and Lévis, inaugurated in 1919.
To any questions on the purchase price, or on the need for renovations of the bridge, Jean-Yves Duclos limited himself to repeating that “the details” of the agreement with CN must be announced later.
Is the Quebec Bridge in good condition? “He is in good condition. Then we assure you that it will be in better condition in a few years,” said Jean-Yves Duclos.
“It is the most emblematic bridge in the country. […] This bridge is a major strategic infrastructure over which we give control to the people of the Quebec region,” continued the head of Public Services and Procurement of the Trudeau government, ending his press scrum three minutes after starting it. .
The file for the acquisition of the Quebec Bridge by the federal government had been stalling for around thirty years, and an agreement was promised by the Trudeau government. CN owned this metal structure which allowed its trains to cross the St. Lawrence River, but also approximately 35,000 cars and 300 buses per day, in addition to pedestrians and cyclists. However, its condition is deteriorating, and in particular its painting.
Ottawa and CN did not agree on who should foot the bill for its restoration, estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. Justin Trudeau’s government notably hired a negotiator in 2019.
The Quebec Bridge is the longest Cantilever bridge in the world and was designated a “national historic site” of Canada in 1995.
