François Legault remains confident that the bill for his Quebec-Lévis tunnel project will not exceed the previously announced $6.5 billion, despite inflation that continues to push up prices across the board.
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According to the latest data released by Statistics Canada on Wednesday, the inflation rate reached 8.1% year-on-year in June 2022, marking the largest increase seen in the country in almost 40 years.
“We are still confident that the budget can be met,” said the senior manager when asked about the possible effects on the Third Link project.
The latest version of the tunnel project between downtown Quebec and Lévis, unveiled in mid-April, envisages a cost reduction of about 25% compared to the version unveiled a year earlier, which had a bill of up to $10 billion.
However, the sum of 6.5 billion dollars announced in the spring is only an estimate. The cost will be determined “as the studies are completed”, recalled the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the announcement of two candidatures in Montreal (Verdun and Maurice-Richard districts).
“There is need”
Although the studies in question are ongoing, François Legault no longer needs to demonstrate the need for an additional road link between Quebec and Lévis.
“It is clear to me that there is a need,” emphasized the leader of the Avenir Québec coalition.
“In Quebec, there are two bridges between the north coast and the south coast,” he recalled. Those two bridges are congested, then we forecast population growth in Greater Quebec, which means the wait time on those two bridges will be longer than here, in Montreal, on Jacques-Cartier or on Champlain.”
No to 3e Bridge
In view of the approaching election campaign, only the form of the third link deserves to be discussed in the Prime Minister’s eyes.
“Is it a bridge that would somewhat spoil the beauty of Quebec City and then L’Île-d’Orléans, or is it a tunnel? We can discuss that,” explained Mr. Legault, arguing with the place that public transport occupies in his project.
Of the two planned lanes in each direction, one would be reserved for buses during rush hours, using a dynamic lane management system.
“It takes about 10 minutes instead of about 30 minutes when crossing the two bridges. So it’s also a good way to encourage people to use public transport more,” believes Mr. Legault.
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