Backgrounder
Completed in 1917, the Quebec Bridge remains the cantilever bridge with the longest clear span in the world. The construction of the bridge, primarily intended for rail traffic, aimed to promote the economic development of Quebec City and to connect the city to the Canadian and American railway network.
- Completed in 1917, the Quebec Bridge remains the cantilever bridge with the longest clear span in the world. The construction of the bridge, primarily intended for rail traffic, aimed to promote the economic development of Quebec City and to connect the city to the Canadian and American railway network.
- Early in its construction, the bridge also experienced its share of unfortunate events; twice the bridge collapsed, causing the tragic loss of 89 workers, including 33 Kahnawake steelworkers.
- Once construction was complete and testing successful, the bridge became the property of the Federal Government on August 21, 1918. Canada retained ownership of the structure until 1995, when the bridge was transferred to CN.
- The clear span between two pillars is 549 metres, while the total length is 987 metres.
- The weight of the steel in the bridge structure is 60,000 tonnes, which is 8 times more steel than the Eiffel Tower. The suspended central portion of the bridge, completing its construction, weighs 5,000 tonnes alone and has a length of 195 metres.
- The bridge was a toll bridge (50¢ per vehicle and 10¢ per passenger) until April 1, 1942.
- In 1952, one track was removed and the other relocated to widen the carriageway, to meet the growing demand for automobile transport between the banks of the river.
- In 1993, a third carriageway was added to the bridge deck to accommodate motorists.
- Every day, over 35,000 road vehicles, including 270 transit buses, approximately 15 passenger and freight trains cross the bridge.
