Province to make Quebec City tunnel project transit-only

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QUEBEC — The Coalition Avenir Québec is abandoning automobiles for its third hyperlink venture in Quebec Metropolis, which can in the end be devoted solely to public transport.

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The information, first reported by TVA Nouvelles, was confirmed to La Presse Canadienne by a authorities supply late Tuesday afternoon.

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Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault will make the announcement on Thursday.

It was the up to date research of the venture that prompted the federal government to alter course. Premier François Legault has repeated many instances that the venture must be reassessed based mostly on distant work, popularized in the course of the pandemic.

The time wanted to cross between Quebec Metropolis and Lévis has decreased, which signifies that a 3rd freeway hyperlink is now not obligatory.

The ultimate particulars stay to be clarified, however it’s attainable {that a} new tramway being in-built Quebec Metropolis can be prolonged to additionally use the tunnel.

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This new model of the third hyperlink may benefit from the help of the federal authorities.

Final 12 months, the federal government introduced an “replace” of the venture, which it estimated at $6.5 billion. It deliberate to construct two tunnels, with a complete of 4 lanes, none of which might have been completely reserved for public transport.

The brand new model can have a single tunnel. Earlier than that, the venture took completely different types.

The third hyperlink is a flagship promise of the Legault authorities. Éric Caire, a CAQ minister and native MNA, had even put his seat on the road on this query.

Over the past election marketing campaign, the present Minister of Training, Bernard Drainville, made a plea for the third hyperlink. Pissed off by questions on its environmental footprint, Drainville stated he didn’t wish to hear extra about greenhouse gases.

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Opposition events have been fast to react to the most recent change to the venture.

“The CAQ has been fooling the individuals of Quebec for 5 years. At the moment, we see what the phrase of François Legault is absolutely price,” stated interim Liberal chief Marc Tanguay. “With this CAQ authorities, we misplaced 5 years to resolve the mobility downside within the Capitale-Nationale area.”

Québec solidaire transport critic Etienne Grandmont stated “lastly, the CAQ acknowledges that its freeway venture underneath the river was a mistake! An important victory for the individuals of Quebec and good news for all of Quebec! For the remainder, we are going to choose the tree by its fruits. The capital area deserves a public transport venture that meets its wants and that’s supported by the specialists.”

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Parti Québécois chief Paul St-Pierre Plamondon additionally supported the information. “We congratulate the CAQ for having backed down on the automobile element,” he stated. “This proposal is now similar to that of the PQ within the marketing campaign. We’ll subsequently collaborate in its realization. Quebec deserves it!”

An ardent defender of the venture, the Conservative chief, Éric Duhaime, sharply criticized the federal government’s choice. “The CAQ has simply betrayed the belief of the individuals of Quebec. François Legault chooses Montreal columnists over the voters of Quebec Metropolis. Elected on lies, what number of caquiste MNAs from the Capitale-Nationale and Chaudière-Appalaches (areas) will now depart the caucus?”