Bridge repairs at the Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 generating stations
Ongoing and future work
Closure of the bridges to all traffic
Rapide‑7 : May 2021 to December 2025
Rapide‑2 : May 2023 to December 2027
Project phases
The bridge demolition and reconstruction will be carried out in stages. The schedule must take into account the need for the spillway to remain operational at all times. Hydro‑Québec must be able to open certain gates should the flow of the Outaouais become too high. Because these gates are operated by a trolley-hoist that travels along guide rails on the spillway deck, the work is planned in phases to allow a section of the spillway to remain accessible at all times.
Work completed
October–November 2020
Five houses in the vicinity of Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 generating stations were converted into jobsite offices for Hydro-Québec and its contractors.
The Rouyn‑Noranda company Blais Industries Inc. won the contract to renovate the five dwellings.
May–December 2021
Work at Rapide‑7 got underway in May 2021. It stopped in mid-December and started up again in March 2022. Here are a few photos of the rehabilitation work at Rapide‑7.
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Demolition work under way on wood access ramp, August 17, 2021 -
Demolition work completed on wood access ramp, August 30, 2021 -
Superficial demolition of the west wall of the generating station to install a new pillar for the access ramp, November 2, 2021
April-December 2022
After the demolition of the old access ramp in 2021, the work carried out in 2022 focused mainly on the construction of a new access ramp. While the old access ramp was built on a wood structure, the new one will be built on a steel and concrete structure.
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Construction of the footing for the pillar at the base of the access ramp, May 11, 2022. -
Construction of the footing of the retaining wall at the bottom of the access ramp, June 15, 2022. -
Construction of concrete pillars to support the steel structure of the access ramp, July 4, 2022. -
Erection of the steel structure, August 29, 2022. -
Installation of the steel structure, September 7, 2022. -
Completed steel structure, September 19, 2022. -
Start of installation of pre-fabricated slabs for the access ramp, September 20. -
Completed installation of pre-fabricated slabs for the access ramp, September 23.
Spillway
Work has also been carried out to repair and strengthen the pillars and spillway chutes. Drill holes allowed steel bars to be inserted to stabilize the pillars and concrete chutes of the spillway and gravity dam (west bank).
Work at the Rapide‑7 facility
Spring – fall 2021
Jobsite preparations get under way as the contractor starts work.
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B
Spillway
Repairs will be carried out to the concrete structures of a first section -
F
Wooden access ramp
Demolition of the ramp. Reconstruction postponed to 2022
In 2022
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A
Gravity dam (east bank)
Bridge deck demolition and reconstruction. Demolition and reconstruction postponed to 2023. -
B
Spillway
Continuation of repairs to concrete structures. -
F
Wooden access ramp
Reconstruction of the access ramp. -
C
Log chute
Closure. Work postponed.
In 2023 – 2025
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B
Spillway
Continuation of repairs to the concrete structures and rehabilitation work on the bridge deck -
D
Intermediate gravity dam
Bridge deck rehabilitation work -
E
Generating station water intake
Replacement of the intake covers (steel) and repairs to the concrete between the covers -
G
Gravity dam (west bank)
Concrete repair work -
H
Asphalting over approximately 20 m from each end of the bridge
