Reconstruction of the 120-kV Underground Saint‑Maxime– Marie‑Victorin Line

Hydro‑Québec has to rebuild this underground line, which is over 50 years old and at the end of its service life, to ensure the electricity supply of 12,500 customers in Longueuil and on Île Notre‑Dame for another half-century.

Replacing this line will ensure system reliability in the area for another 50 years.

A rigorous collaboration process was followed to select the best route possible. More than 50 representatives of the public were consulted (Ville de Longueuil, Ville de Saint-Lambert, Commission scolaire des Patriotes, Réseau de transport de Longueuil, Longueuil emergency services, Exo, Ministère du Transport, municipal officials, provincial officials, private schools in the neighborhood, and so on) to determine the best route for the new line. Technical, social and environmental criteria were taken into consideration.

Many criteria were considered when selecting the route:

• Minimize nuisances to users of the road, public transit and bicycle paths.
• Keep the route as short and straight as possible for the sake of efficiency, sustainability and system reliability.
• Avoid recently repaved streets.
• Look for underground locations with more open access to make construction easier.
• Coordinate the work with other construction sites.

To ensure uninterrupted service, Hydro‑Québec had to design a different route for the underground line, because it’s impossible to dismantle the old line without cutting the power.

A number of other solutions were considered, and every scenario had social, technical and environmental impacts. The chosen solution had the fewest impacts.

We informed residents as soon as we had confirmed the information we needed.

This underground power line’s entire route is along a public right‑of‑way. As is customary for this type of construction project, Hydro‑Québec consulted the municipal administrators concerned, the appropriate government agencies and all stakeholders in the community to determine the key conditions for a successful project.

This underground power line’s entire route is along a public right‑of‑way. As is customary for this type of construction project, Hydro‑Québec consulted the municipal administrators concerned, the appropriate government agencies and all stakeholders in the community to determine the key conditions for a successful project.

The project’s main impacts are constraints on drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The aim of our communications strategy was to inform users of the public right-of-way with a view to enhancing the mitigation measures as part of our jobsite management, if necessary.

Work will will begin in March and continue until June 2021.

The work will take place from March to June 2021.

We don’t expect to interrupt service to customers while the project is going on.

Access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times. Signs will be posted saying that stores are still open while the work is being done. There will be fewer street parking spaces at some locations during the construction period.

Yes. Automobile traffic will be blocked in some places, but vehicles will still be able to travel in alternating directions and there will be continuous access to driveways. Signalers will also be on duty to help maintain traffic flow.

In some places, a street may have to be temporarily closed completely. In those exceptional cases, detours will be planned and more information will be provided.

Yes. Pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users and people with disabilities will be able to move around the jobsite safely. Hydro‑Québec will install steel plates and fencing, for instance, to ensure safety at the jobsite.

Appropriate signage for users of public streets occupied by the jobsite will be set up so that everyone is safe.

At some spots, part of the path will be affected by the construction. Clear signage will be put up to direct users safely.

Some heavy vehicle and machinery needed for excavation, pouring concrete, filling and paving will be coming and going. Appropriate signage for users of public streets occupied by the jobsite will be set up so that everyone is safe.

No. The safety and health of residents are key conditions in everything Hydro‑Québec does. The magnetic fields from this line present no danger to residents. For more information, visit our website to read about electric and magnetic fields.

Private property should not be damaged by the work. If there is an incident causing any damage, we would assume responsibility very quickly.

In this case, a jobsite manager would contact the property owner to agree on the repairs required.

Call the Info-Project line, 1 877 653‑1139. Leave a message with your contact information and we’ll call you back within 24 hours.