More talk of Bridges Cote Nord
Big Dreams
For Riviere aux Outardes
It has become too dangerous for snowmobilers to cross on an ice bridge.
After three years of consideration, the “Les Bolides de Ragueneau” Snowmobile Club is moving forward with its plan to build two footbridges over the Rivière aux Outardes.
The club’s goal is to find a permanent and safe solution for snowmobilers to cross the river
Les Bolides de Ragueneau want to move forward with permanent footbridges because the ice bridge is becoming less and less reliable.
For snowmobilers, the risks are very real. Jean-René Martel, the club’s director and co-leader of the project, recounts crossing the ice on his snowmobile.
“There were 14 feet of water below.
I was afraid I’d drown—it’s dangerous,” he says.
“That happened 20 years ago, but people didn’t really take it seriously.
We’re not going to risk our lives anymore.
Who’s to say that next winter, one of them won’t stall?”
Hydro-Québec has advised the club against building another ice bridge, due to weather conditions and fluctuations in water levels.
The footbridges would ensure safe passage and maintain a usable trail in the face of climate change, which makes ice conditions unpredictable.
What’s the current status?
According to Jean-René Martel, a feasibility study was conducted by Équipe Laurence, a civil engineering firm.
The study confirmed that it was possible to build the proposed footbridges. Preliminary plans were also drawn up and submitted to the Ministry of Transportation, which approved them.
Jean-René Martel states that the various necessary approvals from the ministries have also been obtained.
The club received $500,000 from the Ministry of Transportation to move the project forward, as well as $83,500 from the Manicouagan RCM to hire a project manager, Robert Leblanc of Équipe Laurence.
A Major Undertaking
For the club, this project also represents a significant opportunity for tourism and the economy of the North Shore.
Thousands of snowmobilers would use the regional trails each year and stop in various municipalities to eat, find lodging, or refuel.
The co-director estimates that the economic impact amounts to more than $10 million for the North Shore, based on past studies.
No more ice bridges will be built, and snowmobilers will have to take Route 138.
“If you miss your chance to cross, you could find yourself stuck right in the middle of the road.
Not everyone likes that.
If the road is cut off here, it’s bad news—millions of dollars in economic resources go up in smoke.
Tourists who can’t get to the other side of the two rivers will say, ‘I won’t be coming.’”
The footbridge project, however, is far from complete.
Estimated to cost between 4 and 5 million, the construction will require significant funding efforts.
Manicouagan Footbridge
It’s worth noting that Bridge H093-174, commonly known as the “Manicouagan Footbridge,” is closed for safety reasons.
“The bridge is closed due to defects that compromise user safety.
The bridge could be reopened if work carried out in accordance with current regulations restores safety for those using it and ensures the required load-bearing capacity,” says Marie-Joëlle Côté, communications advisor at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests.
The Manicouagan Snowmobile Association replied via email to the Journal that it is currently considering an “alternative solution to provide a shuttle service for snowmobilers.”
By
iceman ·
