Cabinet ministers Monique Jérôme-Forget, left, and Michelle Courchesne, joined Laval mayor Gilles Vaillancourt to announce the Public-Private Partnership Entente that will oversee the extension of Highway 25 and the building of a bridge to link Montreal and Laval in the east end.
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Photo: Bridge 2
We'll cross the bridge when we get to it, in 2011
Extension of Highway 25 and toll bridge officially approved
The history-making entente involving a first public-private partnership (PPP) in Quebec's road infrastructure has been ratified.
The official announcement came this past Monday at a press conference attended by Quebec cabinet ministers Monique Jérôme-Forget (Finance and Treasury Board), Julie Boulet (Transport), and Michelle Courchesne (Education, Family, Laval Region).
The PPP relates to the planned extension of Highway 25 between Montreal and Laval and the building of a span that will connect the two islands at their eastern ends.
The details of the plan reveal that the government will save $226 million over 35 years by handing over the construction, management and upkeep of the bridge to a consortium of six companies functioning as Concession A25 S.E.C., Concession 25 for short. Part of the $226 million in savings include not only costs for design and construction, but also for upkeep for the first 31 years after completion.
Transport Minister Boulet specified that the extension of Highway 25 will be completed two years earlier than projected by a conventional approach, thus making it possible for the project to be completed for 2011.
The bridge spanning Rivière des Prairies will complement the 7.2 km extension of Highway 25 which will link Henri Bourassa Blvd to Autoroute 440.
The six-lane bridge, which will completes the link between Montreal and Laval, will impose a toll cost to motorists of $2.40 at rush hour and $1.80 the rest of the time.
Protective measures
Added to the advantage of lower costs to the taxpayer, the PPP also protects the government against cost overruns, which if they occur will have to be borne by the Consortium, unlike those incurred in the construction of the Laval Metro which fell into lap of the taxpayer. "The surprise, is that there will be no surprises," stated Treasury Board President Jérôme-Forget, vaunting "the rigor and transparency which governs a PPP project."
The entente, which numbers over 1000 pages, will be available on the Quebec Department of Transport website in the next few weeks.
Shared costs
Of the $400 million estimated cost of the project, the Quebec government's share is $80 million, to be allocated at various stages of construction. This 'new' $80 million tab is added to the $30 million and $23 million already contributed by Quebec to the preparatory studies undertaken in Montreal and Laval, bringing the government's share for the extension of Highway 25 to $133 million.
According to the entente, the government will pay and annual rental fee of $13.4 million upon completion of the 7.2 km extension of Highway 25 which will link Autoroutes 40 and 440. "This is the top end contribution that will come from the government, provided the developer meets all conditions specified in the entente," stated Pierre Lefebvre, president and director-general of Quebec's Public-Private Agency.
As the entente will be in force until 2042, the government will kick in a total of $415 million before the developer turns the infrastructure over, although at Quebec's Public-Private Agency, the actual value is pegged at $142 million.
As to the revenue generated by tolls, the estimate is $16 million per year (in 2002 dollars).
The tolls
In 2011, the private partner of the project cannot charge bridge users more than $2.40 at rush hour and $1.80 at other times.
Contrary to earlier government proposals to charge truckers six times the rates of regular users, the cost has now been set at a maximum of $4.80 at peak periods.
High speed cameras will monitor the toll gates to prevent congestion at either end of the bridge.
Smooth flow guaranteed
Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt welcomed the signing of the Public-Private Partnership, emphasizing that a growing city-region like Laval required new transportation infrastructures.
“Despite the minor media furor over the subway, the ridership trends witnessed since the opening of the three Laval stations have far surpassed the projected figures,” he happily contended.
The mayor also boasted of the favourable repercussions the new bridge linking the islands would have for the environment. The elimination of bottlenecks and of detours amounting to millions of kilometers daily travelled by motorists in the metropolitan region will benefit everyone living in the northern rim, Laval, Montreal, and the South Shore.
The government decree contains measures for ensuring that traffic on the future bridge would flow smoothly. “If the maximum daily flow of 68,000 vehicles is exceeded, the private partner would have to make necessary adjustments (read raise toll rates) to respect the fixed quota,” specified Transport Minister Julie Boulet.
Opposition
Not everyone is in favour of the Highway 25 project. An environmental group plans to apply for an injunction against the highway extension and bridge, claiming that it will lead to increased traffic and greater pollution in Montreal.
Construction is et to begin in the next few months, with completion anticipated for 2011.
Photo: Bridge 1
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Photo: Bridge 2
(Photo: Martin Alarie)
Météo: Laval, 22 mai 2008 / 12°C
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