Autoroutes of Quebec

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Autoroutes of Quebec
Quebec Autoroute 5.svg
Quebec Autoroute 20.svg
Quebec Autoroute 640.svg
Highway shields for Autoroutes 5, 20 and 640
Autoroutes-QC-2013.png
The current Autoroute network in Quebec
System information
Maintained by Transports Quebec (MTQ)
Length2,417 km [1] [2]  (1,502 mi)
Formed1958 (1958)
System links
Quebec Autoroute 20 west in Montreal, ~km 66. A20Ouest km66.jpg
Quebec Autoroute 20 west in Montreal, ~km 66.

The Quebec Autoroute System [a] is a network of freeways within the province of Quebec, Canada, operating under the same principle of controlled access as the Interstate Highway System in the United States and the 400-series highways in neighbouring Ontario. The Autoroutes are the backbone of Quebec's highway system, spanning over 2,400 km (1,500 miles). The speed limit on the Autoroutes is generally 100 km/h (62 mph) in rural areas and 70–90 km/h (43–56 mph) in urban areas; most roads are made of asphalt concrete.

Contents

The word autoroute is a blend of auto and route , equivalent to "freeway" or "motorway" in English, and it became the equivalent of "expressway" in French. In the 1950s, when the first Autoroutes were being planned, the design documents called them autostrades from the Italian word autostrada . [3]

Signage

Standard autoroute shield Panneau I-130-1.svg
Standard autoroute shield

Autoroutes are identified by blue-and-red shields, similar to the American Interstate system. The red header of the shield contains a white image representing a highway overpass, and the blue lower portion of the shield contains the autoroute's number in white, along with a fleur-de-lis, which is a provincial symbol of Quebec.

Most autoroute and road traffic signs in the province are in French, though English is also used on federally-financed or -owned routes, such as the Bonaventure Expressway in Montreal. To surmount the language barrier, however, most signs in Quebec use pictograms, and text is avoided in most cases, with the exceptions usually only being the names of control cities. Other exceptions that are posted in both languages is the illegal use of radar detectors when entering the province that reads "Détecteurs de radar interdits/Radar detectors prohibited", as well as areas where roads can be slippery due to melting ice and snow, marked "Degel/Thaw".

Numbering system

Drivers along eastbound Autoroute 30 approach the exit for Autoroute 15. Quebec Autoroute 30 - Autoroute 15 - Oct 2012 (1).JPG
Drivers along eastbound Autoroute 30 approach the exit for Autoroute 15.

Autoroutes are divided into three types principal routes, deviation routes, and collector routes and are laid out and numbered in a fashion similar to the Interstate Highway System in the United States. The principal Autoroutes are the major highways of the province, and have single- or double-digit numbers. East-west Autoroutes running parallel to the Saint Lawrence River (for example, Autoroute 20 and Autoroute 40) are assigned even numbers, while north-south Autoroutes running perpendicular to the Saint Lawrence (such as Autoroute 5 and Autoroute 15) are given odd numbers. Deviation and collector Autoroutes both feature triple-digit numbers. Deviation routes are bypasses intended for truck traffic to circumvent urban areas, and are identified by an even number prefixing the number of the nearby Autoroute that it bypasses (for example, Autoroute 440 in Laval). Collector Autoroutes, by contrast, are spur routes into urban areas, and are identified by an odd number prefixing the number of the nearby Autoroute that it branches off of (such as Autoroute 720, a spur of Autoroute 20 into downtown Montreal).

History

Quebec's first Autoroute was the Autoroute des Laurentides (Laurentian Autoroute), which opened in 1959 as a toll road. This initiative to bring freeways into Quebec was started by Maurice Duplessis, whose government saw the construction of the Laurentian Autoroute (now A-15) from Montreal to Saint-Jérôme and the first section of the Boulevard Métropolitain (A-40), which opened in 1960.

1960s

It was the Quebec Liberal government of the 1960s that saw the construction of further Autoroutes, with a grid numbering system and the introduction of the blue and red shield. The sign is inspired by the American Interstate sign. This was especially needed in light of the fact that many visitors would be flocking to Montreal by car for Expo 67. Montreal's Autoroute Décarie (A-15) and the Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel were constructed for that very reason. The Autoroute des Cantons-de-l'Est (Eastern Townships Autoroute - A-10) opened in 1964, and its continuation, A-55 between Magog and Rock Island, opened in 1967, connecting with Interstate 91. What are now the A-20 (part of the Trans-Canada Highway) and the A-15 to New York (connecting with Interstate 87), originally built in the 1940s, were upgraded to expressway standards. The A-20 also connects with Highway 401 in Ontario. A-40 was extended out to Berthierville, and later to Trois-Rivières in the 1970s. Others include Autoroutes 25, 30 (southern beltway), 31, 35 (eventually connecting to Interstate 89), Autoroute Laurentienne (73), and 640 (an unfinished proposed northern beltway).

1970s

The 1970s also saw the completion of the Pierre Laporte Bridge in Quebec City, connecting the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River to the north. In addition to this, the A-73 was extended to Beauce, the A-20 was extended to Rivière-du-Loup, and the Chomedey Autoroute (A-13), the A-19 and the A-440 were constructed in Laval. Autoroutes were built (two sections of A-440, and A-740) and a few more planned in the Quebec City region, creating a dense web, which led to significant sprawl. In 1976, the Parti Québécois came to power, whose platform mandated an expansion of public transportation over the construction of more Autoroutes. Existing Autoroutes were extended (e.g., the A-40 was extended from Trois-Rivières to Quebec City) but no new Autoroutes were built.

The Autoroute des Laurentides, the Autoroute des Cantons-de-l'Est, the Autoroute de la Rive-Nord (North Shore Autoroute), and the A-13 were toll roads until the mid-1980s, when the toll barriers were removed and the province stopped collecting tolls from vehicles using the Autoroutes. The last toll booth was on the Champlain Bridge (A-10,A-15 and A-20). It was removed in 1990 because the Champlain Bridge is federal property and is thus not subject to provincial tolls.

2000s

Road signs showing directions for Autoroute 20 and Route 165 in Quebec. Intersections des routes 20 et 165 a Sainte-Anne-du-Sault.jpg
Road signs showing directions for Autoroute 20 and Route 165 in Quebec.

In the 2000s, there were several high-profile failures and collapses around some Autoroutes, due to aging and crumbling infrastructure, including the Boulevard du Souvenir overpass collapse, De la Concorde overpass collapse, and most recently the Ville-Marie tunnel collapse. An online poll by Léger Marketing conducted shortly after the Viger tunnel collapse found that 88 percent of Montrealers are "worried" about the state of roads, bridges and tunnels in the city, with more than half of respondents saying they are downright "scared" to drive under an overpass (58 percent), on a bridge (54 per cent), or through a tunnel (53 per cent). McGill University's Saeed Mirza stated that ill-advised design choices and poor-quality concrete were used in the construction rush ahead of Expo '67 and the 1976 Olympics. In particular, the concrete used was permeable with lack of proper drainage, and these allowed chlorides from de-icing salts to corrode the steel reinforcements. [4]

Main-class autoroutes

NumberLength (km) [2] [1] Length (mi)Southern or western terminusNorthern or eastern terminusLocal namesFormed [2] RemovedNotes
Quebec Autoroute 5.svg A-5 34.021.1 King Edward Avenue at Ontario boundary in Gatineau Qc105.svgQc366.svg R-105  / R-366 in Wakefield Autoroute de la Gatineau01964-01-011964current
Quebec Autoroute 6.svg A-6 5534 A-15 in La Prairie Route 235 in Farnham Richelieu Autoroute, Autoroute Haut-RichelieuA-6 was to roughly parallel Route 104. The western half of the route was cancelled by the mid-1970s while the rest of the route was abandoned a few years later.
Quebec Autoroute 9.svg A-9 127.5 A-40 in Pointe-Fortune A-50 in Lachute Pointe Fortune-Lachute AutorouteA-9 was to provide a fixed crossing over the Ottawa River but was cancelled.[ citation needed ]
Quebec Autoroute 10.svg A-10 145.1 [5] 90.2Qc136.svg R-136 in Montreal Quebec Autoroute 55.svgQuebec Autoroute 610.svg A-55  / A-610 in Sherbrooke Autoroute Bonaventure, Autoroute des Cantons-de-l'Est01962-01-011962current
Quebec Autoroute 13.svg A-13 21.413.3Quebec Autoroute 20.svg A-20 in Lachine Quebec Autoroute 640.svg A-640 in Boisbriand Autoroute Chomedey01975-01-011975current
Quebec Autoroute 15.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-15 (TCH) 164.0101.9I-87.svg I-87 at United States border at Lacolle Qc117.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg R-117 (TCH) in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts Autoroute Décarie, Autoroute des Laurentides01958-01-011958currentPart of the Trans-Canada Highway between A-40 in Montreal and Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts.
Quebec Autoroute 16.svg A-16 95.6 R-134 A-30 in Longueuil Autoroute Wilfrid-LaurierReserved for autoroute conversion of Boulevard Wilfrid-Laurier (Route 112 and Route 116).
Quebec Autoroute 18.svg A-18 A-55 near Victoriaville Proposed A-65 in Plessisville Autoroute des Bois-FrancsUnbuilt.
Quebec Autoroute 19.svg A-19 10.16.3Quebec Autoroute 40.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-40 (TCH) in Montreal Quebec Autoroute 440.svgQc335.svg A-440  / R-335 in Laval Autoroute Papineau01970-01-011970currentBeing extended to A-640
Quebec Autoroute 20.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-20 (TCH) 534.5332.1Ontario 401 crown.svg Highway 401 at Ontario border at Rivière-Beaudette Qc132.svg R-132 in Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Autoroute Jean-Lesage, Autoroute du Souvenir01964-01-011964currentPart of the Trans-Canada Highway between A-25 in Longueuil and A-85 in Rivière-du-Loup.
Quebec Autoroute 20.svg A-20 45.228.1Qc132.svg R-132 in Rimouski Qc132.svg R-132 in Mont-Joli Autoroute Jean-Lesage01991-01-011991currentFuture plans to connect to the western segment.
Quebec Autoroute 25.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-25 (TCH) 52.132.4Quebec Autoroute 20.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-20 (TCH) in Longueuil Qc125.svgQc158.svg R-125  / R-158 in Saint-Esprit Autoroute Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine01967-01-011967currentPart of the Trans-Canada Highway between A-40 in Montreal and A-20 in Longueuil.
Quebec Autoroute 30.svg A-30 144.189.5Quebec Autoroute 40.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-40 (TCH) in Vaudreuil-Dorion Qc132.svg R-132 in Sorel-Tracy Autoroute de l'Acier01968-01-011968current
Quebec Autoroute 30.svg A-30 20.812.9Qc132.svg R-132 in Bécancour Qc132.svg R-132 in Bécancour Autoroute de l'Acier01975-01-011975currentNo plans to connect to the western segment.
Quebec Autoroute 31.svg A-31 14.38.9Quebec Autoroute 40.svgQc131.svg A-40  / R-131 in Lavaltrie Qc131.svgQc158.svg R-131  / R-158 in Joliette Autoroute Antonio-Barrette01966-01-011966current
Quebec Autoroute 35.svg A-35 41.425.7Qc133.svg R-133 in Saint-Sébastien Quebec Autoroute 10.svg A-10 in Chambly Autoroute de la Vallée-des-Forts01966-01-011966currentBeing extended to United States border and I-89 .
Quebec Autoroute 40.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-40 (TCH) 347216Ontario 417 crown.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg Highway 417  / TCH at Ontario border near Pointe-Fortune Qc138.svgQc368.svg R-138  / R-368 near Boischatel Autoroute Félix-Leclerc, Autoroute Métropolitaine, Autoroute Transcanadienne01959-01-011959currentPart of the Trans-Canada Highway between Ontario and A-25 in Montreal.
Quebec Autoroute 50.svg A-50 15999Rue Montcalm in Gatineau Qc117.svg R-117 near Mirabel Autoroute de l'Outaouais, Autoroute Maurice-Richard01975-01-011975current
Quebec Autoroute 51.svg A-51 4528 Route 116 near Melbourne A-20 in Drummondville 01974-01-01197401982-01-011982Renamed A-55 .
Quebec Autoroute 55.svg A-55 247153I-91.svg I-91 at United States border at Stanstead Qc155.svg R-155 in Shawinigan Autoroute Joseph-Armand-Bombardier, Autoroute de l'énergie01964-01-011964current
Quebec Autoroute 65.svg A-65 Thetford Mines A-20 in Villeroy Autoroute de l'AmianteUnbuilt. Possible extension to A-10 near Lambton.
Quebec Autoroute 70.svg A-70 31.5619.61Qc170.svg R-170 in Saguenay (Jonquière)Qc170.svg R-170 in Saguenay (Aéroport Bagotville)Autoroute du Saguenay, Autoroute Alma-La Baie01983-01-011983currentAutoroute 70 is being extended westward from Jonquière to Alma, and eastward from Aéroport CFB Bagotville to La Baie.
Quebec Autoroute 73.svg A-73 135.083.9Qc204.svg R-204 in Saint-Georges Qc175.svg R-175 in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury Autoroute Robert-Cliche, Autoroute Laurentienne, Autoroute Henri-IV01963-01-011963current
Quebec Autoroute 85.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-85 (TCH) 9257NB 2 (TCH).svg Route 2 (TCH) at New Brunswick border near Dégelis Quebec Autoroute 20.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-20 (TCH) near Rivière-du-Loup Autoroute Claude-Béchard02005-01-012005currentPart of the Trans-Canada Highway for its full length. Presently a 9 km (5.6 mi) gap between Demers and Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!; connection made via Route 185 , which it will eventually replace.
  •       Former

Spur-class Autoroutes

NumberLength (km) [2] [1] Length (mi)Southern or western terminusNorthern or eastern terminusLocal namesFormed [2] RemovedNotes
Quebec Autoroute 410.svg A-410 12.98.0Qc108.svgQc143.svg R-108  / R-143 in Sherbrooke Quebec Autoroute 10.svgQuebec Autoroute 55.svg A-10  / A-55 in SherbrookeAutoroute Jacques-O'Bready, Autoroute de l'Université01971-01-011971current
Quebec Autoroute 415.svg A-415 74.3 A-15 in Montréal A-19 (unbuilt section) in MontrealMount Royal AutorouteCancelled northern leg of a proposed downtown freeway loop.
Quebec Autoroute 430.svg A-430 A-15 / A-30 in Candiac A-30 in Varennes Several kilometers of Route 132 north and south of A-20 was designated A-430 on paper in the 1970s.
Quebec Autoroute 440.svg A-440 18.211.3Quebec Autoroute 13.svgQc148.svg A-13  / R-148 in Laval Quebec Autoroute 25.svg A-25 in LavalAutoroute Jean-Noël-Lavoie, Autoroute Laval01974-01-011974current
Quebec Autoroute 440.svg A-440 12.57.8Quebec Autoroute 40.svgQuebec Autoroute 73.svg A-40  / A-73 in Québec Quebec Autoroute 40.svg A-40 in QuébecAutoroute Charest, Autoroute Dufferin-Montmorency01962-01-011962currentTwo segments with a 4 km (2.5 mi) gap through downtown Quebec City; connection made via Boulevard Charest.
Quebec Autoroute 520.svg A-520 7.84.8Quebec Autoroute 20.svg A-20 in Dorval Quebec Autoroute 40.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svg A-40 (TCH) in Montréal Autoroute Côte de Liesse01966-01-011966current
Quebec Autoroute 530.svg A-530 12.98.0Qc132.svgQc201.svg R-132  / R-201 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Quebec Autoroute 30.svg A-30 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield02012-01-012012currentFormerly part of A-30 .
Quebec Autoroute 540.svg A-540 5.13.2Quebec Autoroute 73.svgQc175.svg A-73  / R-175 in Québec Qc138.svg R-138 in QuébecAutoroute Duplessis01966-01-011966current
Quebec Autoroute 540.svg A-540 4.93.0 A-20 in Vaudreuil-Dorion A-40 in Vaudreuil-Dorion01967-01-01196702012-01-012012Renamed A-30 .
Quebec Autoroute 550.svg A-550 Ontario boundary in Gatineau
(Would continue as Highway 416 in Ottawa)
A-50 in Gatineau Deschênes Autoroute, Britannia-Deschênes corridorGatineau bypass, including a new bridge across the Ottawa River.
Quebec Autoroute 573.svg A-573 12.98.0Quebec Autoroute 40.svgQuebec Autoroute 73.svg A-40  / A-73 in Québec Qc369.svg R-369 in QuébecAutoroute Henri-IV01976-01-011976current
Quebec Autoroute 610.svg A-610 10.36.4Quebec Autoroute 10.svgQuebec Autoroute 55.svg A-10  / A-55 in Sherbrooke Qc112.svg R-112 in SherbrookeAutoroute Louis-Bilodeau02006-01-012006currentFormerly part of A-10 .
Quebec Autoroute 640.svg A-640 53.233.1Qc344.svg R-344 in Oka Qc344.svg R-344 in Charlemagne Autoroute de contournement nord de Montréal01961-01-011961current
Quebec Autoroute 720.svg A-720 8.15.0 A-15 / A-20 in Montréal Rue Notre-Dame in MontréalAutoroute Ville-Marie01972-01-01197202021-01-012021 [6] Renamed R-136 .
Quebec Autoroute 730.svg A-730 4.22.6Quebec Autoroute 30.svg A-30 in Saint-Constant Qc132.svg R-132 in Saint-Constant02010-01-012010currentFormerly part of A-30 .
Quebec Autoroute 740.svg A-740 7.44.6Qc175.svg R-175 in Quebec Boulevard Lebourgneuf in QuébecAutoroute Robert-Bourassa, Autoroute du Vallon01975-01-011975current
Quebec Autoroute 755.svg A-755 106.2 A-55 in Trois-Rivières A-40 in Trois-RivièresAutoroute de Francheville01977-01-01197701990-01-01c.1990Renamed A-40 .
Quebec Autoroute 930.svg A-930 2.51.6Quebec Autoroute 30.svg A-30 in Candiac Qc132.svg R-132 in Candiac02011-01-012011currentFormerly part of A-30 .
Quebec Autoroute 955.svg A-955 14.79.1Qc122.svg R-122 in Saint-Albert Quebec Autoroute 20.svgTrans-Canada Highway shield.svgQuebec Autoroute 55.svg A-20 (TCH)  / A-55 in Sainte-Eulalie 01975-01-011975currentNone of this highway is of freeway standard.
Quebec Autoroute 973.svg A-973 3.62.2Rue du Chalutier / Rue du Prince-Édouard in Quebéc Quebec Autoroute 40.svgQuebec Autoroute 73.svg A-40  / A-73 in Quebec01983-01-011983currentCosigned with Route 175 for its entire length.
  •       Former

See also

Notes

  1. French: Réseau autoroutier québécois, pronounced [ʁezootɔʁutjekebekwa]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ministère des Transport: "Distances routières", page 5, Les Publication du Québec, 2005
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Répertoire des autoroutes du Québec" (in French). Transports Québec . Retrieved 2017-06-02.
    • In 1900 the word autostrade was used in Aéroport intercontinental. Bassin d'Arcachon. Le Teich Editor: J. Bière (Bordeaux) http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k96147718/f15.image
    • In 1924, the Italian word autostrada was coined (See http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/autostrade )
    • In 1924, the words auto-strade and auto-route were used in the French language in Revue d'artillerie (Nancy, Paris, etc.) 1924-01 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9666738n/f408.item for construction af road for exclusive use of automobile in Italie
    • In 1925, the first autostrada was opened in Italy (See http://www.cnrtl.fr/definition/autostrade )
    • In 1925, some tourist organisations become involved in debates around autoroutes; see Bulletin officiel / Union des fédérations des syndicats d'initiative de France, colonies et protectorats by the Union des fédérations des syndicats d'initiative de France Colonies et Protectorats (Paris) 1925-03 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k5670134h/f54.item
    • In 1931, an autoroute meeting (Congrés international des autoroutes) occurred, organised by an autoroute organisation (Bureau international des autoroutes); See Le Journal (Paris) 1931-09-01 Contributors: Fernand Xau and Henri Letellier 1931-09-01 (N14198). page 3 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k76307767/f3.item
    • In 1932, Paris started a project of autoroute building; See Le Journal (Paris) 1932-04-27 Contributor: Fernand Xau and Henri Letellier 1932-04-27 (N14437), page 2 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k76299484/f2.item
    • In 1935, France creates legal concepts regarding the building of autoroutes: Dictionnaire du notariat: répertoire général de droit civil et fiscal avec formules. Tome 15 / par les rédacteurs du Journal des Notaires et des Avocats Editor: Administration of the "Journal des notaires et des avocats"; Publisher: L. Maretheux (Paris) 1922–1941 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6268007q/f622.image
    • In 1957, studies about the United States make the link between autoroutes, freeways and expressways: expressways have at-grade junctions, freeways are a kind of autoroute with restricted access at each interchange to avoid any conflict point in a sophisticated way such that the driver could be lost if he does not follow the signage; See La Technique sanitaire et municipale: hygiène, services techniques, travaux publics: journal de l'Association générale des ingénieurs, architectes et hygiénistes municipaux de France, Algérie-Tunisie, Belgique, Suisse et Grand-Duché de Luxembourg Author: Association générale des hygiénistes et techniciens municipaux Editor: Berger-Levrault (Paris) 1957-01 http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k9607718j/f28.item
  3. Gohier, Philippe (2011-08-23). "Montreal is falling down - Canada". Macleans.ca. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
  4. Ministère des transport: "Distances routière", page 12, Les Publications du Québec, 2005 (Distance between Montreal and exit 143)
  5. "CityNews".