14 August 2009
Over the past five years, both Highway 5 and Highway 105 have experienced a higher than average increase in traffic volume. This situation can be explained in part by the population growth of the Outaouais region. This local growth could rise to 19.3 % between 2001 and 2026, which far exceeds the expected provincial average of 9.3%. The annual average of daily vehicle volume is 3,000 and this number will continue to rise over the next few years.
Completing Highway 5 in the Outaouais region is therefore a priority for the Government of Canada, Quebec and Outaouais residents. Once completed, this highway will help to significantly reduce traffic on Highway 105, increase road safety, and contribute to the economic growth and tourism development of the region.
The project consists of building a four-lane divided highway extending Highway 5 over a distance of 9.0 km in a rural area, from Chemin de la Rivière to the existing part of the highway in Wakefield. An initial 2.5 km stretch is currently under construction in the municipality of Chelsea. This stretch includes two overpasses in the Tulip Valley area, two arch culverts at Chemin Pine, and a connection to Highway 105.
Today's announcement concerns the construction of a 6.5 km section of Highway 5 in the municipalities of Chelsea and La Pêche, between the first segment, which is currently under construction, and the completed section of Highway 5 in Wakefield. The work involves the construction of a four-lane divided highway and includes two interchanges, bridges over water courses and arch culverts to enable local traffic to safely cross the highway. The total cost of this section is estimated at $115 million.
