Laviolette Bridge

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**Laviolette Bridge**

Carries	Quebec Autoroute 55
Crosses	St. Lawrence River
Locale	Trois-Rivières, Quebec and Bécancour, Quebec
Design	Arch bridge
Longest span	335 meters
Total length	2,707 meters
AADT	28,000
Opening date	December 20, 1967

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.

1 Overview
2 History
3 Specifications
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Overview

Laviolette Bridge is the only bridge across the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City, and therefore 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.

It is the longest bridge in Quebec. Approximately 28,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.

[edit] 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 started a 3-year major repair, which caused major traffic jams throughout the summer of 2005, when the middle of the bridge was repaired. In 2006, the north-end is redone, and in 2007, it will be the south part.

[edit] Specifications

Construction: 1964–1967
Cost: $50 million (CAD)
Pillars: 34
Total length: 2,707 m
Main span: 335m

[edit] References

Cournoyer, Jean. La Mémoire du Québec (2001 edition). Les Éditions internationales Alain Stanké (Montreal). ISBN 2-7604-0672-5.
Histoire du pont Laviolette on Quebecweb.com