Queens County Update: $47-M Bypass Project

The province will begin work on the $47-million dollar Port Mouton-Port Joli bypass this summer. A total of four bridges will either be replaced or constructed in the bypass area in preparation for the project. Department of Transportation Arena Manager Matt Covey says the "Wagner Bridge" and "Pawn Bridge" in the Port Mouton area will be replaced in the coming months. They are actively used and traffic delays should be expected when work begins. Covey says the province will spend $8 million dollar on the project this year with the remaining costs spread out over the next two fiscal years. "Paving is going to be very expensive, sub grade is expensive and the Broad River Crossing is going to be quite a span so that bridge will probably be around $5-6 million dollars," Work tenders will go out in coming weeks in hopes the bridge work will be finished by September 30th. The multi-year bypass project should be ready in the fall of 2014.