LAC-MÉGANTIC RAIL BYPASS
LOCATION: LAC-MÉGANTIC and municipalities of FRONTENAC AND NANTES
Issue: Lac-Mégantic Rail Bypass update
Date: MAY 11, 2021
Suggested Responses
- This project continues to be a priority for the Government of Canada.
- Since the project’s announcement in 2018, significant progress has been made. The provincial environmental assessment and the feasibility study have been completed, and the relocation of railway activities to the Lac-Mégantic industrial park was integrated into the project, responding to community requests.
- The Government of Canada and the rail operator, Canadian Pacific Railway, will start preparing plans and specifications in the coming weeks. Negotiations to acquire the lands will soon begin with the property owners.
- Transport Canada continues to work in collaboration with the Canadian Pacific Railway and other partners involved.
If Pressed
- The construction phase is expected to begin in spring 2022 upon receipt of all regulatory approvals. The Department is working with Canadian Pacific Railway to establish a schedule that will allow us to finish the project in 2023.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
- On May 11, 2018, the Prime Minister of Canada, together with the Premier of Quebec, announced the rail bypass in Lac-Mégantic. The project, which is estimated to cost $133 million, will be funded by the federal government (60%) and the Province (40%). In December 2019, Canadian Pacific Railway bought the Central Maine & Quebec Railway, and have indicated publicly they will continue to support the project.
- The feasibility study conducted by the municipality of Lac-Mégantic was completed with the submission of the final report by the engineering firm AECOM in September 2020. This report was transmitted to the Canadian Pacific Railway for review to ensure that the proposed design meets its operating methods and to allow the relocation of the railway operations to the Lac-Mégantic industrial park as requested by the community and the Mayors of Lac-Mégantic, Nantes and Frontenac. The finalization of this adjustment work will enable the launch of the plans and specifications phase and of the negociations with the owners or the properties required for the bypass.
The provincial environmental assessment is now completed. As a result, 138 mitigation measures will be integrated into the project. These measures will be implemented in order to minimize as much as possible the impacts of this project on the community and its environment.