Patriotes substation and 315-kV supply line

Before determining the line routes and location of the substation, Hydro‑Québec surveyed a study area of some 40 km² to better understand the host environment.

Map of the study area for the Patriotes project [PDF 434 kB]

The biophysical and human environment map below shows the elements that were impacted by the project.

Biophysical and human environment map for Patriotes project (in French only) [PDF 1 MB]

Hydro‑Québec then created line routes and determined the substation location based on the following criteria:

Substation and line

• Avoid the most environmentally sensitive areas: the built environment and residential developments, sugar bushes, land reserved for horticulture and specialized crops, wetlands and erosion zones.

Substation

• Build the substation as close to the load center as possible.
• Avoid protected agricultural land.

Line

• Trace routes that do not require the relocation of homes or important farm buildings.
• Determine the shortest possible route to reduce construction costs and the number of elements and spaces that may be affected by the project.
• Limit landscape impacts.
• Respect property and lot boundaries whenever possible.
• Limit the number of landowners affected by the project.

Map of the selected substation site and line route for the Patriotes project [PDF 1.03 MB]

Selected substation site

Hydro‑Québec built Patriotes substation on Boulevard Albert‑Mondou, in Saint‑Eustache’s industrial area, an environment compatible with this type of equipment. The site is located near the ADESA Montréal premises and south of the exo railway right‑of‑way.

Plants and an architectural fence were added to the front of the substation to help integrate the facility into its environment.

Selected line route

Optimization of route B

Hydro‑Québec conducted studies to optimize route B in response to the concerns expressed by the community during the consultation phase. A number of improvements were made to the initial route.

To replace an existing tower rather than add one, Hydro‑Québec moved the connection point for variant B west of the Autodrome Saint-Eustache. This change also reduced the clearing of hardwood stands by 50% compared to the initial route B.

Hydro‑Québec purchased two properties on Boulevard Arthur‑Sauvé and Chemin de la Rivière Nord to keep the future line far from neighboring homes and ensure that the route is as linear as possible. An increased proportion of reduced-footprint towers were used so that the line will better integrate into the landscape.

Improvements to the alignment and distribution of towers also helped reduce the visual impact of the line for residents living on the roads that run along the Rivière du Chêne. In addition, selective clearing was carried out in the ecological corridor of the Rivière du Chêne to preserve as much vegetation as possible.

Most of the work was carried out on farmland. The impacts of the construction of 14 towers was offset and mitigated through the compensation and mitigation measures set out in the Hydro‑Québec–UPA Agreement on the Siting of Power Lines on Farms and in Woodlands.

During construction, Hydro‑Québec made sure to limit disturbances (including noise) for landowners and residents living near the future line, implement rigorous safety measures at public road crossings and carry out site restoration at the end of construction.

The work on the distribution network partially disrupted traffic, as part of the shoulder for one direction of travel was obstructed. Residences and businesses remained accessible at all times.

As the project construction phase was about to get underway, a project news bulletin was sent to nearby residents to provide then with information. A map of the work was made available on the project website. More about the work to complete the project.