Next section of Highway 50 slated for September inauguration

After five years of construction, decades of promises and $145 million in infrastructure investments, the Quebec government is gearing up to open the 17-kilometre stretch of Highway 50 between Grenville and Fassett.

According to Melanie Cayer, press secretary for MNA d'Argenteuil David Whissell, the next phase of the Highway 50 is proceeding ahead of schedule.

"Two weeks ago they put the railings on the bridge over the Rouge River and crews are now working on the final phase of paving and painting the lines. The project is on schedule with no delays and it is expected to open at the end of August or early September," she said.

Representing a Quebec first, the Rouge River Bridge is a unusual construction project in that its support structures are based on either side of the riverbed, rather than in the water. Measuring 378 metres long, 74 metres above water level, and 14.3 metres wide, the Rouge River Bridge bears over 2,500 tonnes of steel and it cost the province more than $36 million to build.

The final stretch of highway, between Thurso and Montebello, is expected to open on schedule by late 2012.