CaDCR staff writer
TYLin, in partnership with AtkinsRéalis, has been selected to provide detailed design and construction for the Île d’Orléans Bridge. The new cable-stayed bridge will cross the heart of the St. Lawrence River and span close to 2.1 kilometres to connect Quebec City to Île d’Orléans.
“We are thrilled to serve as lead bridge engineer and proud to help bring this vitally important project to life,” said Marwan Nader, bridge sector leader with TYLin. “The new Île D’Orléans Bridge will not only significantly improve transportation for residents and businesses, but it will also serve as yet another significant landmark structure for the province.”
The bridge’s design is a balance between innovation, aesthetics and sustainability, and is the result of a collaboration between local and international partners forming the Groupe Héritage Île d’Orléans (GHIO). TYLin’s client, GHIO, consists of Dragados Canada, Inc. and EBC, who was awarded the contract to build the new bridge.
With a 520-metre-long north approach and 740-metre-long south approach, the 790-metre-long, three-span cable “super structure” is continuous with only two expansion joints, one at each abutment, which is expected to reduce bridge maintenance.
It will provide a 3.5-metre-wide traffic lane in each direction and 2.5-metre-wide shoulders on each side of the deck. The deck also incorporates three-metre-wide multipurpose paths in each direction, which allow access for maintenance vehicles.
Included in the bridge design are four belvederes, positioned at the deck level of the north and south pylon legs, which will offer panoramic views of the Montmorency Falls and downtown Québec City on the horizon. The absence of bracing on the V-shaped pylons also results in unobstructed vistas, enhancing users’ experience of crossing the St. Lawrence River.
Built in 1935, the original Île-d’Orléans Bridge could longer adequately meet the needs of Quebec City users on its own.
Quebec’s Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) selected the Groupement Origine Orléans joint venture, led by Stantec and EXP, to develop a preliminary design of a new connection between Île-d’Orléans and the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.
Inspired by the island’s maritime history, the design for the bridge showcases the river and the natural landscape of the site.
“We also carried out an environmental impact assessment and supported MTMD during the hearing process with the Office of Environmental Public Hearings (BAPE),” Stantec said in a statement. “As one of the first impact assessments carried out using the new issue-based methodology, it helped show how the project would be fully integrated into the environment while respecting the island’s unique heritage and landscape.”
Slated for completion by the end of 2027, the new bridge will feature two wider lanes of traffic, shoulders, and multi-use lanes for pedestrians and cyclists. The project includes redevelopment of the northern interchange and the addition of new green spaces.
