The Laviolette Bridge (
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
: ''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 that spans the Saint Lawrence River between
Montreal and
Quebec City; therefore, it provides an important connection between the North and South shores of the river.
The bridge, an impressive structure with elegant aesthetics, has become a major landmark of Trois-Rivières and the
Mauricie
Mauricie () is a traditional and current administrative region of Quebec. La Mauricie National Park is contained within the region, making it a prime tourist location. The region has a land area of 35,860.05 km² (13,845.64 sq mi) and a popu ...
region.
Approximately 40,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
History
Popular demand for a bridge had existed since the late 19th century. The construction of Laviolette Bridge did not start until 1964. On September 8, 1965, an explosion led to the bursting of a
caisson because of
water pressure, causing the death of twelve workers.
The bridge was inaugurated on December 20, 1967 by
Fernand Lafontaine
Fernand-Joseph Lafontaine (November 14, 1922 – June 21, 2010) was a Canadian politician and a member of the Legislative Assembly of Quebec.
He was born in Montreal, Quebec and became an engineer.
Lafontaine ran as a Union Nationale candi ...
, the ''ministre de la voirie'' (minister of highways) of the government of
Daniel Johnson, Sr
Francis Daniel Johnson Sr. (April 9, 1915 – September 26, 1968) was a Canadian politician and the 20th premier of Quebec from 1966 to his death in 1968.
Background
Johnson was born in Danville, Quebec, Canada. He was the son of Francis J ...
. It thus replaced the former
ferry
A ferry is a ship, watercraft or amphibious vehicle used to carry passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, Italy, is sometimes called a water bus or water taxi ...
system in place. The name honours the founder of Trois-Rivières, the
Sieur de Laviolette.
In 2005, the Ministry of Transport of Québec began a three-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
*Construction: 1964–1967
*Cost: $50 million (
CAD)
*Pillars: 34
*Total length: 2,707 m
*Main span: 335 m
See also
*
Lake Saint-Pierre
*
List of crossings of the Saint Lawrence River
*
List of bridges in Canada
References
*Cournoyer, Jean. ''
La Mémoire du Québec'' (2001 edition). Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké (Montreal). .
Histoire du pont Lavioletteon Quebecweb.com
External links
*
{{Crossings navbox
, structure = Bridges
, place =
St. Lawrence River
, bridge = Laviolette Bridge
, bridge signs =
, upstream =
Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge-Tunnel
, upstream signs =
, downstream =
Pierre Laporte Bridge
, downstream signs =
Bridges completed in 1967
Road bridges in Quebec
Through arch bridges in Canada
Buildings and structures in Trois-Rivières
Transport in Trois-Rivières
Bridges over the Saint Lawrence River
Transport in Centre-du-Québec
Buildings and structures in Centre-du-Québec