Wednesday, October 1, 2025
The Government of Quebec announced the submission of the project notice for the construction of a third road link between Quebec City and Lévis to the Minister of the Environment.
This new step is a prerequisite for the impact study, the environmental analysis by the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) as well as the work of the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE). It marks a significant step forward in the planning of this major project, which will play an important role in the development of the region for future generations.
“After the unveiling of the selected corridor, the project is now taking another important step: the filing of the project notice, which launches the environmental assessment procedure. This procedure, which is crucial for the realization of the third link between Quebec City and Lévis, confirms that the project is progressing in a concrete, efficient, and responsible manner,” said Geneviève Guilbault, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility
The various analyses carried out as part of the impact study will enable the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility to optimize the project design in order to limit the impact on the environment and ensure better integration of the new inter-shore link into its host environment. The public will be invited to share their observations on the issues that the study should address by participating in an online consultation led by the MELCCFP. This 30-day consultation will be accessible via the Environmental Assessment Registry.
It should be noted that the third link project will connect the Félix-Leclerc highway (A-40), either via the Robert-Bourassa highway (A-740) or via Pierre-Bertrand Boulevard (R-358), to the Jean-Lesage highway (A-20) along Chemin des Îles. This corridor stood out because it meets the project’s major objectives, particularly in terms of economic development, commercial security, freight transport, traffic flow and public transport.
Hatch announced its role in a consortium—alongside Parsons and Artelia—that has been awarded the contract to lead and deliver the project that will establish a third highway link between Québec City and Lévis.
Hatch will lead geotechnical engineering and all tunnel design disciplines, including structural, civil, electromechanical, and fire safety.
Several options are being considered for the project, including a bridge, a tunnel, or a combination of the two. The road link, which will be used for private, commercial, and public transit, will improve mobility and enable the transport of goods and merchandise while limiting the environmental footprint.
The project will be executed using the Integrated Project Delivery method, marking its first application in Québec. The innovative collaborative approach brings all stakeholders together from the outset to share both risks and rewards, fostering efficiency, transparency, and alignment throughout the project life cycle.
Québec’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and is pleased to act as owner engineers on this significant project.
Featured image: (Hatch)
