Isolated residents after closing a bridge in Pointe-aux-Outardes

A dozen residences from Pointe-aux-Outardes, eight of whom are occupied all year round, are isolated since the closure of the Emile-Lapointe bridge last Thursday.

Following a break in the infrastructure, vehicles can no longer cross the bridge. On the other hand, it is always possible to circulate on foot or by bicycle.

The mayor of Pointe-aux-Outardes, Julien Normand, argues that the municipality remains in contact with the landlocked residents. Since last week, we talked to them three times. All of these people, we reassure themhe says.

Liaison vehicles are available at the exit of the bridge to facilitate traffic in the sector, explains the mayor, who adds that residents can also travel by taxi for free.

Some citizens have managed to move their car on the other side of the bridge before the official closure, others rather ask for help from relatives for their trips, notes Julien Normand.

You also have to think that there are chalets or visitors who are presentrecalls the mayor. You have people […] which must return to their corner of the country and who must leave their vehicle on site. So that is less obvioushe adds.

The municipality will make sure to maintain essential services to citizens and isolated visitors using a van.

We have a van that will be installed upstream of the bridge for ambulance services, the Sûreté du Québec and the fire services.

He indicates that the municipality will continue to work with the Quebec Ministry of Transport (MTQ) in the coming days in order to find avenues of solution.

Engineers from MTQ found there that there were important breakages vis-à-vis the diagonal beams which support the bridge apron, says the mayor.

He mentions that no motorized vehicle can cross the bridge, including the VTTeighty-wheelers and all-terrain motorcycles. Besides, there is 24/7 surveillance on siteadvises Julien Normand.

The municipality of Pointe-aux-Outardes believes that the bridge repair will take two to three weeks.