Ottawa, Quebec to share cost of Lac-Mégantic rail bypass
Project to divert trains from core of devastated town estimated at $133M
Nearly five years after a train derailed in Lac-Mégantic and killed 47 people, the federal and provincial government confirmed a rail bypass Friday that will ensure trains leave the Quebec municipality’s downtown core for good.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard were among those on hand to announce a commitment to build the 12.8kilometre bypass. On July 6, 2013, the runaway train carrying crude oil from the United States careened off the track and exploded, killing the 47 people and destroying part of the town centre.
Politicians normally are all smiles during such infrastructure announcements, but that wasn’t the case Friday.
“There’s nothing we wouldn’t give to go back in the past and avoid being here today to make this announcement,” Trudeau said. “Obviously, we can’t rewrite history, but we can, together, shape the future.”
Trudeau said many people are still dealing with the ongoing effects of trauma and loss and he hopes the bypass will help the community continue to heal and rebuild.
“No community should have to live through what Lac-Mégantic went through, no one should have to suffer the tragic loss of their own,” he said.
The new route that will take rail traffic away from the downtown area was selected following a feasibility study commissioned by the municipality. While the estimated cost is $133 million, the next phase of the study will clarify the final cost of the bypass. The federal government will assume 60 per cent of the cost, with Quebec taking on the remaining 40 per cent.
The project will encompass 80 pieces of privately owned land. The federal government will approach each of the owners and come to an agreement with them in terms of the value of their property. Trudeau, meanwhile, was asked about people in neighbouring towns who are opposed to the bypass.
“There are strong emotions regarding what happened, obviously a lot of mourning that continues,” he said. “There are private lands all around this place and there’s no question that there’s going to be people impacted.
“(But) we’ve chosen a path that we all believe is the right one to move forward on.”