Clearance below (?) Total length 2,707 m | Crosses St. Lawrence River Longest span 335 m (1,100 ft) Height 107 m Opened 20 December 1967 Province Québec | |
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Similar Pierre Laporte Bridge, Île d'Orléans Bridge, Quebec Bridge, Louis‑Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel, Jacques Cartier Bridge | ||
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.
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Map of Pont Laviolette, Qu%C3%A9bec, Canada
Overview
Laviolette Bridge is the only bridge across the Saint Lawrence River between Montreal and Quebec City; therefore it 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.
Approximately 28,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day.
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 highways) 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 Transport of Québec began a 3-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.