Île d'Orléans Bridge

Last updated
Orleans Island Bridge

Pont de l'Île d'Orléans
Close View of Pont de l'Ile-d'Orleans and Montmorency Falls.jpg
Coordinates 46°52′49″N71°08′16″W / 46.880233°N 71.137883°W / 46.880233; -71.137883
Carries Quebec Route 368
Crosses St. Lawrence River
Locale Quebec City and Île d'Orléans
Characteristics
Design Suspension bridge/Truss bridge
Total length4.43 km (2.75 mi)
Width9.6 m (31 ft)
Height65.88 m (216.1 ft) to top of towers
Longest span323 m (1,060 ft) [1]
No. of lanes 2
History
Designer Philip Louis Pratley
Opened1935
Location
Ile d'Orleans Bridge

The Île d'Orléans Bridge, known locally as the Pont de l'Île, is a suspension bridge that spans the Saint Lawrence River between the Beauport borough of Quebec City and Île d'Orléans (Orléans Island) in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is part of Quebec Route 368 and connects to Autoroute 40 on the north side.

Contents

The island was originally accessible only by ferry or by ice bridge during the winter. An electoral promise made by Premier Louis-Alexandre Taschereau to Montmorency County for a job-creation project during the Great Depression led to the construction of this bridge in 1934. It was completed in 1935 and initially named Taschereau Bridge. [2]

The bridge, which uses under-deck trusses on the approaches to the main suspension-type span, is the furthest downstream of the Saint Lawrence River's fixed crossings, but it does not cross the entire river.

PontdeliledorleansQuebec2010.jpg

See also

References

  1. "Orleans Island Bridge (1935)". Structurae.com. Retrieved May 8, 2012.
  2. "Discover the Island". Courtepointe et Cafe Association of B&Bs on Orleans Island. Retrieved October 29, 2009.