Highway 50 widening project completed

Tashi Farmilo

The Government of Quebec has announced the completion of the long-awaited widening of a critical section of the Guy-Lafleur Highway (Autoroute 50) between Gatineau and L'Ange-Gardien.

The newly completed 9.7-kilometer section will soon open to the public, transforming the highway into a four-lane divided roadway. This upgrade is set to greatly enhance safety for motorists, addressing long-standing concerns about the risk of head-on collisions. The project, initiated in January 2022, represents an investment of more than $102 million and is a key part of broader efforts to improve transportation infrastructure across western Quebec.

"Road safety has been a concern for citizens in the region for nearly 30 years, and that is why we prioritized this project when we joined the government," stated Deputy Premier Geneviève Guilbault. "Each section delivered improves the safety of Quebecers who travel on this road every day, and that is why we will complete this major project that is essential for western Quebec."

The enhanced section of Highway 50 is expected to significantly reduce accidents and improve traffic flow between Gatineau and L'Ange-Gardien, a corridor that has been seen as hazardous due to its previous two-lane configuration. With the opening of this new section, the government aims to meet its objectives of making travel safer and more efficient for the thousands of commuters who rely on this route daily.

In the coming weeks, additional work will take place, including the installation of a high-voltage cable barrier along a 1-kilometre stretch of the eastbound roadway at kilometre 169, further enhancing safety measures for travellers.

"In 2018, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) committed to remedy the inaction of past governments and to resolve once and for all the issue of securing Highway 50," said Mathieu Lacombe. "This vision is taking shape, step by step, as the kilometres are built and delivered to the population. Our determination to complete this project, which has been requested by the region's citizens for decades, is unwavering, and the work continues."

Photo caption: Quebec has completed the widening of a 9.7-kilometre section of Highway 50 between Gatineau and L'Ange-Gardien, enhancing road safety with a new four-lane configuration and additional safety features.

Photo caption: Courtesy of the Government of Quebec