Quebec Autoroute 25

Infobox road
province=QC
type=Autoroute
route=25
alternate_name=Autoroute Louis-H-Lafontaine
length_km=21.8
length_ref=cite web|url=http://www1.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/repertoire_autoroute/autoroute.asp|title=Répertoire des autoroutes du Québec|language=French|publisher=Transports Québec|accessdate=2008-02-23]
length_round=1
established=1967
direction_a=South
direction_b=North
terminus_a=jct|state=QC|A|20 in Longueuil
junction=jct|state=QC|A|40 in Montreal
jct|state=QC|A|640 near Terrebonne
terminus_b=jct|state=QC|Route|125|Route|158 near Saint-Esprit
previous_type=A
previous_route=20
next_type=A
next_route=30
cities = Boucherville, Montreal, Laval, Terrebonne, Mascouche

Autoroute 25 (or A-25, also called Autoroute Louis-H-Lafontaine in Montreal) is an Autoroute in the Lanaudière region of Quebec. It is currently 49 km (30 miles) long, with a short gap which follows arterial roads in the north end of Montreal.

A-25 begins at an interchange with Autoroute 20 and Route 132 in Longueuil and quickly enters the Louis Hippolyte Lafontaine Tunnel into the east end of Montreal. It is the main north-south freeway in the east end of Montreal (actually northwest-southeast but perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River).

North of the interchange with Autoroute 40, a gap exists in A-25, and it follows Boulevard Henri-Bourassa to Boulevard Pie-IX, both of which are principal urban arterial roads. Boulevard Pie-IX north of Boulevard Henri-Bourassa becomes a temporary section of Autoroute 25 across the Rivière-des-Prairies to Autoroute 440. From there, A-25 proceeds east with A-440, then continues north and east of Laval.

The designation of Autoroute Louis-H Lafontaine is named after Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine, a 19th-century Lower Canada leader of what was then the Province of Canada.

Future segments

Montreal-Laval Extension

Autoroute 25 is currently being extended under a public-private partnership. The 7.2-kilometer highway will join Boulevard Henri-Bourassa in Montreal's East end and Laval's Autoroute 440. The $207-million project will save some $226 million for the province since a private consortium will assume any cost overruns. A toll bridge will span the Rivière des Prairies and will cost motorists between $1.80 and $2.40 per crossing. The work is expected to be completed by 2011. The highway will have four lanes (two in each direction), while the bridge will feature three lanes in each direction with one reserved for public transit.

Once the link between Montreal and Laval is complete, the temporary Autoroute section connecting Boulevard Pie-IX to Autoroute 440 would lose its A-25 designation. A new route designation has not been determined yet, but preliminary documents for the A-25 completion across Rivière des Prairies are indicating this section as Route 125. The road is currently named Boulevard Pie-IX, except in Laval between the river and Autoroute 440.

Although a controversial project because of its environmental impacts, the new span will effectively join the North Shore, Laval, Montreal, and the South Shore. In addition, the completion of Autoroute 30 also created under a public-private partnership, will help reduce traffic in the City of Montreal by offering a by-pass route.

Northern extensions

In addition, significant extensions are possible in the north end, which would ultimately double the length of A-25, as follows:

* New bypasses of Saint-Esprit, Sainte-Julienne and Rawdon which are currently proposed
* Upgrading of an at-grade expressway section of Route 125 north of Rawdon, which is 4-lane except for the northernmost section which is 2 lanes

The ultimate length of A-25 will likely be around 100 km (63 miles) long.

A-25 is also part of the Trans-Canada Highway between the A-20 and A-40 interchanges.

Exit list

References

External links

* [http://www1.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/en/affaires/partenariat/a25.asp MTQ information sheet on 2010 construction of A-25 toll bridge segment between Montreal and Laval]
* [http://www.exitlists.com/exitlists/lists/autoroutes/A25.html A-25 at Exitlists.com]
* [http://webfil_92.tripod.com/autoroutes_en/id9.html A-25 at Quebec Autoroutes]
* [http://www.inforoutiere.qc.ca/fr/carte_routiere/index.asp Transports Quebec Map] fr icon