Quebec Autoroute 73

Infobox road
province=QC
type=Autoroute
route=73
highway_name = Autoroute 73
marker_

alternate_name = Autoroute Robert-Cliche
Autoroute Laurentienne
length = 116 kilometres (72 miles)
direction = North/South
starting_terminus = Beauceville, Quebec
junction =
ending_terminus = Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury, Quebec
cities = Quebec City, Lévis
established = 1963
system = City/Rural highway
previous_type=A
previous_route=70
next_type=A
next_route=85

Autoroute 73 (or A-73, also called Autoroute Robert-Cliche south of Quebec City and Autoroute Laurentienne to the north) is an important Autoroute in east-central Quebec, Canada. A-73 provides an important freeway connection to areas to the north and south of Quebec City, starting in the Beauce region and (currently) ending in the Laurentian Mountains north of Quebec City. Future extensions will take it farther north and south, into the Saguenay region and possibly to near the Maine border. Including concurrencies, A-73 is currently 116 km (72 miles) long.

A-73 currently begins at Route du Golf in Beauceville as a 4-lane freeway. It then narrows to a two-lane freeway. It widens again to a 4-lane freeway after 28 km (17 miles) in Sainte-Marie. Just after crossing A-20 in Lévis, A-73 crosses the Pierre Laporte Bridge (the longest suspension bridge in Canada) into Quebec City. Since November 15, 2007, A-73 continues further south into Beauceville (Exit 61) and further extensions to Saint-Georges are expected to follow. [http://www1.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/regions/chaudiere/a73.asp]

For 10 km (6 miles) through Quebec City, A-73 overlaps A-40, partially using A-73 exit numbers and partially using A-40 numbers. The routes split at a cloverleaf interchange, where A-73 joins the "Autoroute Laurentienne" (which in itself continues into downtown Quebec City, signed as Route 175 only but secretly known as Autoroute 973).

Heading north, A-73 continues as a multilane freeway north to Stoneham where it currently transitions into a brief two-lane freeway before converting to a 2-lane conventional highway as Route 175. However, extensions of A-73 are planned and under construction; it will be a 4-lane freeway or at-grade expressway all the way north to Saguenay. [http://www.bape.gouv.qc.ca/sections/mandats/r175-60_227/documents/liste_document_60-84.htm#PR] It is unclear whether the long northern extension will be signed as A-73 or Route 175. It is expected to be completed to north of Stoneham by 2007 and Saguenay by 2011.

Due to the alignment change and the fact that both sections continue for a short distance as Autoroutes, some have suggested that the Laurentienne section of A-73 (along with unsigned A-973) be given a new designation, the most common (and most logical due to the fact it would be replacing Route 175) suggestion is Autoroute 75. It is unlikely that it will take place however.

The designation Autoroute Robert-Cliche is named after a Quebec provincial New Democratic Party leader of the early 1960s. Robert Cliche also led an inquiry into Quebec trade union rights in 1974. A foundation in his name is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Beauce region through which A-73 travels.

The Autoroute Laurentienne name is derived from the Laurentian Mountains region north of Quebec City, through which the northern extension of A-73 is planned.

Interchanges from South to North

* *Exit number not signed (or future interchange), based on kilometre post
* On the east-west portion of the A-40 concurrency, the first number is the posted A-40 exit number, followed by the unposted A-73 kilometre post in brackets.

External links

* [http://webfil_92.tripod.com/autoroutes_en/id17.html A-73 at Quebec Autoroutes]
* [http://www.geocities.com/autoroute73/highway.html A-73 extension unofficial website]
* [http://www.inforoutiere.qc.ca/fr/carte_routiere/index.asp Transports Quebec Map] fr icon