Quebec’s Ministry of Transportation has selected the Groupement Origine Orléans project team to produce the preliminary design for the new Île-d’Orléans cable-stayed bridge. The team’s mandate is to refine the design for the new bridge connecting Île d’Orléans and the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, near Quebec City.
Groupement Origine Orléans includes Stantec and EXP, as well as other firms such as Lavigne & Chéron Architectes, Michel Virlogeux Consultant, Ramboll and Ombrage Éclairage.
The new 2.1-km cable-stayed bridge, which will be built to the west of the current structure that was built in 1935, will feature two wider lanes of traffic, shoulders and a multi-use lane for pedestrians and cyclists on both sides of the bridge.
“We have brought together the best engineers, architects, landscape architects and other experts to propose a clean and elegant design that integrates seamlessly into the environment and the heritage setting of Île d’Orléans,” said Martin Thibault, Stantec’s vice president of transportation (Quebec) and the spokesperson for Groupement Origine Orléans.
The architectural concept of the new bridge is inspired by the maritime history of Île d’Orléans and is designed to showcase the river and the natural landscape of the site. It promotes active modes of transportation across the river. In addition to providing unparalleled views of the island, Quebec City and Montmorency Falls, the bridge will also be lit at night to feature the elegant cable-stayed structure. The concept also takes into account sustainability requirements as well as the site’s geography and climate conditions.
“With our partners, we have succeeded in designing a balanced, seamless and refined project showcasing the exceptional natural, cultural and historical landscape. This will be an extremely rewarding experience for all team members, because we are lucky enough to be working with some of the world’s leading experts in bridge design,” said Sylvain Denis, director of the Quebec bridges group at EXP.
On average, about 7,000 vehicles cross the bridge a day, but in the summer it can reach 15,000.
Preliminary works will start in 2022 and commissioning is slated for late 2027.
To view a video about the design concept, click here:
