Pierre Laporte Bridge facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pierre Laporte Bridge
Pierre Laporte Bridge (foreground).
Coordinates	46°44′42″N 71°17′27″W / 46.74500°N 71.29083°W / 46.74500; -71.29083
Carries	Autoroute 73
Crosses	St. Lawrence River
Locale	Quebec City and Lévis, Quebec
Official name	Pont Pierre-Laporte
Characteristics
Design	Suspension bridge
Total length	1,041 m (3,415 ft)
Longest span	667.5 m (2,190 ft)
History
Designer	Demers, Vaudry, Gronquist Parsons Transportation Group
Construction cost	Originally evaluated at $33 millions, it cost $55 million CAD (Approx. 359M$ in 2018 per Bank of Canada inflation)
Opened	1970
Statistics
Daily traffic	122,000
Toll	Free

The Pierre Laporte Bridge (French: Pont Pierre-Laporte) is the longest main span suspension bridge in Canada. It crosses the Saint Lawrence River approximately 200 metres (660 ft) west (upstream) of the Quebec Bridge between Quebec City and Lévis, Quebec. It is the longest non-tolled suspension bridge in the world.

It was originally named the New Quebec Bridge and was supposed to be called Pont Frontenac (Frontenac Bridge) until it was renamed in honour of Quebec Vice-Premier Pierre Laporte, who was kidnapped and murdered during the October Crisis of 1970 as construction of the bridge was nearing completion. The bridge was constructed for the Province of Quebec, Department of Roads in a joint venture with the private firm of Parsons Transportation Group.

It carries Autoroute 73, north from Autoroute 20, the Trans-Canada Highway, to Quebec City and Autoroute 40, and northwards towards Saguenay.

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  Quebec and Pierre-Laporte Bridges in winter.

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  Pierre-Laporte Bridge (May 2015).

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  View from under the north side of the bridge.

Specifications

• Constructed: 1966-1970
• Main span: 667.5 metres (2,190 ft)
• Side spans: 186.5 metres (612 ft) each
• Total length: 1,041 metres (3,415 ft) between anchorages
• Deck: Six-lane freeway bridge
• Capacity: 90,000 vehicles per day

See also

In Spanish: Puente Pierre-Laporte para niños