The Society for a Bridge over the Saguenay

What's at stake: Green house gases

The construction would cause a permanent decrease in the emission of green house gases due to the stopping of :

the operation of one, two or three ferries day and night;
the operation of the motors of vehicles while waiting on the dock and during the crossing in order to maintain a comfortable temperature for their occupants;
the emission of gas from vehicles when they drive up the hills on either side of the Saguenay after the ferry crossing;
gases produced by the delays and waiting on the funnel section between La Malbaie and Les Escoumins, particularly when vehicles are slowed down by the formation of long strings of traffic.

Environment : Plant and wildlife

The permanent circulation of ferry boats day and night could have undesirable effects on the marine mammals at the mouth of the Saguenay. On the other hand, the construction of a bridge could cause inconveniences during dynamiting or other manoeuvres. Certain bird of prey reproduction areas must be protected or reconstructed. The impact study in progress should allow clarification of the different environmental impacts which have already been looked at in the opportunity study. You can consult the article "Un peu de silence" published in the Newspaper Le Soleil of August 25, 2002 ( un_peu_de_silence.pdf 634 KB, french version)

Environment : The Saguenay Park

This park, formed by the Marine Park of Saguenay-St. Lawrence under the jurisdiction of Parks Canada and the Saguenay Park under the jurisdiction of Parks Quebec, is a determinant entity in the evolution of the construction project. The construction of a bridge would allow the two parts of this park to be joined by road while at the moment, they can only be linked by boat at the mouth of the Saguenay. Pointe Noire on the Baie St. Catherine side would become more easily accessible with the new path of the highway 138 after the completion of the bridge.

The environmental concerns will be better defined upon publication of the impact study presently in progress.