The
Laviolette Bridge (in
French,
pont Laviolette) is an
arch bridge connecting the city of
Trois-Rivières,
Quebec,
Canada to
Bécancour on the south shore of the
Saint Lawrence River via
Autoroute 55.
Overview
Laviolette Bridge is the only bridge across the Saint Lawrence River between
Montreal and
Quebec City; therefore it provides an important connection between the north and south shores of the river.
Known for its impressive structure, its elegant aesthetics, the bridge has become a major landmark of Trois-Rivières and the
Mauricie region.
Approximately 28,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
History
Popular demand for a bridge had existed since the end of the 19th century. The construction of Laviolette Bridge did not start until 1964. During its 1964–1967 construction, a mishap occurred on
September 8,
1965 when an explosion led to the bursting of a
caisson (because of
water pressure) and causing the death of twelve workers.
It was inaugurated on
December 20,
1967 by Fernand-J. Lafontaine, then
ministre de la Voirie (the minister of transportation) of the
Johnson government. It thus replaced the former
ferryboat system in place. The name honours the founder of Trois-Rivières, the
Sieur de Laviolette.
In 2005, the Ministry of Transportations of Québec began a 3-year major renovation project, which caused major traffic jams throughout the summer of 2005, when the middle of the bridge was repaired. In 2006, the northern end was redone, followed by the southern end in 2007.
Specifications
