Pierre Laporte Bridge

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Pierre Laporte Bridge
Quebec Bridge with Pierre Laporte Bridge in the background
Carries	6 lanes of Quebec Autoroute 73
Crosses	St. Lawrence River
Locale	Quebec City, Quebec and Levis, Quebec
Design	Suspension bridge
Longest span	667.5 meters (2,190 feet)
Total length	1,041 meters (3,414 feet)
AADT	90,000
Opening date	1970
Coordinates	46°44′42″N, 71°17′27″W

The Pierre Laporte Bridge was originally named the New Quebec Bridge and was supposed to be called Pont Frontenac until it was renamed in honour of Quebec Vice-Premier Pierre Laporte, who was kidnapped and murdered during the October Crisis of 1970.

The Pierre Laporte bridge is the longest main span suspension bridge in Canada. It crosses the Saint Lawrence River approximately 200 m (650 ft) west of the famous Quebec Bridge between historic Quebec City and Levis Quebec.

It was constructed for the Province of Quebec, Department of Roads in a joint venture with the private firm of Parsons Transportation Group.

It carries Quebec Autoroute 73, north from Quebec Autoroute 20, the Trans-Canada Highway, to Quebec City and Quebec Autoroute 40, and northwards towards Saguenay, Quebec.

[edit] Specifications

Constructed: 1966-1970
Main span: 667.5 m (2,190 ft)
Side spans: 186.5 m (612 ft) each
Total length: 1041 m (3,414 ft) between anchorages
Deck: Six-lane highway bridge
Capacity: 90,000 vehicles per day

[edit] See also

v • d • e Quebec City
Boroughs	La Cité (1st) · Les Rivières (2nd) · Ste-Foy—Sillery (3rd) · Charlesbourg (4th) · Beauport (5th) · Limoilou (6th) · La Haute-Saint-Charles (7th) · Laurentien (8th)
Districts	Gay Quarter · Old Quebec · Saint-Jean-Baptiste · Saint-Roch
See also	List of articles about Quebec City · History of Quebec City Municipal reorganization in Quebec