Extension Beauceville to Notre-Dame-des-Pins / 2013-2016
In 2007, the extension project from St.Joseph to Beauceville ended. Technically the following extension project to take place would have been from there southward to the village of Notre-Dame-des-Pins. However, an almost 8-year long fight was started by opponents to the decided pathway of the new autoroute. A long legal battle ensued between the government and the opponents. In the end the project had to be approved in its proposed form with the help of a special law voted by the government. During the legal hold-back, Quebec's DOT began to build the highway from St.Georges northward to Notre-Dame-des-Pins.
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This above plan shows Exit 61 at Golf Road. Exit 53 has been built in Notre-Dame-des-Pins and another at the junction with 74th street in St.Georges. 74th street is a entirely new street that had to be built as part of the project. The existing Route 173 has also been widened to 4 lanes at the junction of 74th street up to the Carrefour Mall (formerly anchored by Sears).
Beauceville Project Timeline: repeated opposition and multiple approvals
Public hearings were held in 2006 to present the project to the population. They have ended in November 2006. The project went under review by the BAPE* committee. They then released a report to the Environment Minister on January 26, 2007 which later went public. The BAPE agreed on the extension proposal under some conditions. The project then went to the CPTAQ* (Farm Land protection Commission). They also agreed under certain conditions.
Some people living where the highway was to be built in Beauceville protested and appealed the decision. The CPTAQ held a hearing after which they agreed again to keep going with the proposed project. The opponents then filed a request at the "Quebec Administrative Tribunal" (TAQ*) against the decision. The TAQ board released its decision in July 2008 giving credit to some points highlighted by the opponents but refused to switch the proposed/approved highway corridor with another one that was apparently approved back in 1988 according to the group of citizens.
The CPTAQ commitee reviewed the project a second time and released a note in which they again said that the upcoming conclusion of their 2nd report was to be an approval of the project under conditions. Shortly after, the opponents went back to the TAQ again and appealed the decision for the second time claiming that a number of acres was wrong in the CPTAQ's report. In 2009, before the TAQ's second hearing, the Government released a decree to authorize the project. Shortly after, the group of citizens went to the Quebec Superior Court to protest against that decree.
A judge later agreed to their plea and cancelled the decree. In March 2011, the Quebec DOT Minister decided that it was enough and proposed a Special Law at Quebec’s National Assembly. The law would validate the decree and put an end to the 5-year legal opposition to the project.
In June 2011, after hearings, the Special Law was voted and approved at Quebec’s National Assembly and the decree became valid. The plans, specifications and surveying was to finally begin in that area.
Looking South on Highway 73 in Beauceville - 2015
Looking North on Highway 73 in Beauceville - 2015
Finally good news in 2013:
Early in 2013, the Quebec DOT announced its investment plan for 2013-2015 and the Chaudiere-Appalachian region was to see $654 millions invested in maintaining, repairing and adding roads and structures. Autoroute 73 will get more than $150 million over two years. In Beauceville, the last phase of construction consists of 5 miles of a four-lane divided highway. This phase will be divided in three separate construction contracts.
In mid-April 2013, the DOT announced the first of three tenders to begin the last phase of construction of Autoroute 73 in Beauceville. That first contract calls for the construction of 1.5 mile of roadway with lighting, structures and signage.
In August 2013, another tender was announced for part of the Beauceville area construction. In early 2014, the opponents did however appeal the Law calling it illegal. In July 2014 however, a judge of the Superior Court rejected their appeal and ruled in favor of the government. Above you can see 2015 pictures of the first completed area just south of the existing Exit 61 in Beauceville. The second completed area begins at Exit 53 in Notre-Dame-des-Pins and extends north.
The final contract was awarded in February 2015. It featured the construction of 2 KM of highway and structures. Construction began in the spring of 2015 and ended in September 2016. The roadway opened on September 30th 2016 marking the end of the construction of Autoroute 73 from Quebec City to St-Georges.
*BAPE = Bureau des Audiences Publiques sur l'Environnement. (Bureau of Public Hearings on Environment) It informs and consults the public on questions related to the quality of the environment assigned to it by the Minister of Environment. In so doing, it helps guide government decision-making in a sustainable development perspective, a perspective comprising the biophysical, social and economic aspects.
*CPTAQ = Comission de Protection du Territoire Agricole (Farm Land protection Comission)
*TAQ = Tribunal Administratif du Quebec (Quebec Administrative tribunal) The TAQ is meant for people who file a proceeding before the Tribunal against decisions rendered by public administration authorities.