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Replacement of the Main Street Bridge

The Main Street bridge (responsibility of the Québec Ministry of Transport) is at the end of its useful life and has been at a reduced load capacity since 2016. Since this time, it has been under constant watch. Its replacement has now become urgent.

The new bridge will have more or less the same appearance as the one that is presently there. It will have the same width, with the addition of a small lookout facing the lake and it will have arches. This last will give an additional 24 inches of clearance under the bridge.

Starting on July 27th 2020, the company responsible for the project, Grandmont et fils, will install the necessary equipment for the work to be done. This work will be then continue until December 2020. An extension of the wooden foot bridge will be installed which will allow circulation, on foot, by bicycle and by wheelchair, from one side of the river to the other. The demolition of the existing bridge will begin on August 3rd 2020. The new bridge will be accessible to traffic starting in December 2020. The work with then be finalized during the summer of 2021.

Vehicle Traffic Circulation

The bridge will be completely demolished and vehicle traffic circulation will not be possible during the work. As previously mentioned, an extension of the wooden foot bridge will be installed. It will therefore still be possible to access village businesses during the construction project.

In order to travel from one side of the river to the other by car, a detour will be necessary, either via routes 143 and 108 (Capelton Road), or via route 143 and Sherbrooke Road.

For directions from Quebec 511 click here

Boat Traffic Circulation

Water traffic will not be possible during specific periods of the project :

During the demolition of the bridge ;
During the installation of the foundation and sheet piles ;
During the molding and shoring up of the concrete slab ;
During the setting of the slab and the curing of the concrete

Following this, water navigation will be open during specific hours in order to allow passage of boats :

Boats can pass from 6:30 pm on September 21, 2020.

Parking

North Hatley residents may leave a vehicle at the Main Street parking (off Capelton Road) or on School Street. Parking spots will be marked and will require a parking sticker from the municipality, identical to the one currently used for the post office parking. Parking stickers are available from the town hall.

Emergency Services

The RIPPIME (Intermunicipal Fire Department of Eastern Memphrémagog), has indicated that for the eastern sector, Waterville and Ayer’s Cliff will be the first responders. There is no change for the western sector.

The police (Sûreté du Québec) and ambulance (Ambulances de l’Estrie) have been advised of the detour and have confirmed that service will be maintained.

Signage

In addition to the signage that will be installed by the Québec Ministry of Transport and the company in charge of the project, signs identifying local businesses will guide visitors toward parking lots so that they are able to access these businesses by the foot bridge.