City of Gaspé - A city at the heart of discovery A city at the heart of discovery

The wind turbine blades that will be transported measure 107 meters, which is the equivalent of 7 semi-trailers long by 3 semi-trailers wide and 3 semi-trailers high. With this dimension, significant adjustments would have been necessary on the existing roads. 

In addition, the convoy will circulate at a speed of 5 km/h; which would have significantly congested the main roads (132 or 198) and could have caused problems for the emergency services. Although the convoy will not circulate every day, we could not subject motorists to such a wait!

The construction contract was awarded on July 25, 2022 after obtaining environmental authorizations from the Government of Quebec. According to the planned schedule, the road will be completed without paving before winter. The paving will be done after the thaw in the spring of 2023. 

The road was to be built in 2022 as the first 107 meter blades were to be produced in late 2022 or early 2023. This was a key requirement to keep the LM Wind Power factory open and to create more 225 additional jobs to the existing 450. 

No, the road will be open to everyone and will also serve as a road link between the Augustines industrial park and the port of Gaspé for other potential industrialists.

The route of the road was determined by the firm responsible for the plans and specifications based on the following parameters:

• The shortest route possible, in order to save taxpayers' money;
• A route limiting encroachments in wetlands to a minimum;
• A route which had to respect the parameters of slopes (10% maximum) and curves so that the convoys of blades could circulate on the route;
• A route of a maximum of 35 meters of right-of-way in order to respect the limit of the projects submitted to the BAPE process, which would have caused too long delays to complete the road in time;
• A route limiting the impact on the landscape.

The City of Gaspé eventually wants to allow the development of land along the new road. In order for the cohabitation with the transport of blades to take place in the best possible way, the Department of Town Planning, Environment and Regional Planning will propose various rules to ensure harmonious development along the route.

There are no plans to extend water and sewer services along the road. 

Yes, the road will be accessible throughout the year and snow removal will be assumed by the municipality.

The road had to be paved to facilitate its maintenance and allow the wind turbine blades to be transported without interruption in the spring during the thaw period. 

The total project is estimated at between $20M and $22M, including land acquisition, construction work on the new road and the necessary improvements at the two intersections with provincial roads.

A decree from the Government of Quebec will finance a maximum of $19M, excluding acquisitions that are the responsibility of the municipality.

Maintenance of the new road will be the responsibility of the municipality.

The Société de chemin de fer de la Gaspésie also worked on an option for a rail link between the port of Gaspé and the Augustines industrial park. Both road link and rail link options were presented to the Government of Quebec and the LM Wind Power plant.

Ultimately, the LM Wind Power plant preferred to focus on the road link since construction times were quicker and the risk of delays lower. However, the rail link project could see the light of day in the future.