During his last day in office, Quebec City mayor urges government to reconsider divisive tunnel project
In his final act as mayor, Quebec City's Régis Labeaume made a plea with the premier: don't go through with the "third link" tunnel project.
Labeaume, who stepped down from his 14-year seat earlier this week, posted a lengthy letter to his Facebook page Thursday containing "concerns and thoughts regarding mobility in Quebec City."
In May, the CAQ government announced it would construct a minimum $7 billion tunnel under the St. Lawrence river, connecting Quebec City and its South Shore.
But Labeaume argues that the tunnel won't reduce traffic on the existing connectors between these two territories -- the Pierre Laporte Bridge and the Quebec Bridge. In his view, the "mobility habits" of the population simply don't justify such a major undertaking.
The entrances and exits of the third link are located on the eastern side of both territories. However, according to a 2019 survey from Quebec's transport ministry, "three-quarters of the vehicles that leave the South Shore come from the west of this territory to go to Quebec City and vice versa for the return trip," Labeaume writes.
"It is also recognized that most of the residential development on the South Shore is taking place in the western part of the territory," he adds.
Instead of constructing the tunnel, Labeaume proposes that a new lane be added to the Pierre Laporte Bridge in the direction of morning and evening traffic, "as is done on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco or on the Louis Bisson Bridge in Laval."
To improve traffic flow, he also recommends modifying entry and exit lanes at either end of the bridges, and recommends improving public transit in the South Shore to reduce congestion overall.
"Together, these solutions would correct the traffic congestion situation for a long time to come, I believe, for only a portion of the $10 billion investment planned for the tunnel."
Legault has yet to comment on the contents of Labeaume's letter.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
BREAKING 15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members today during a ceremony at British Columbia's legislature cenotaph commemorating the Second World War's Battle of the Atlantic.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.
Amid climate change warnings, Canadians lukewarm on electric vehicles
Amid scientists' warnings that nations need to transition away from fossil fuels to limit climate change, Canadians are still lukewarm on electric vehicles, according to a study conducted by Nanos Research for CTV News.
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.