PORT OF QUÉBEC UNVEILS PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE FUTURE FOULON WALKWAY

06/19/2014

Québec, June 19, 2014 – Today, the President and CEO of the Québec Port Authority (QPA), Mario Girard, along with the project’s designer, Réal Lestage, presented the preliminary design concept for the future Foulon walkway. Located on the border of the Anse au Foulon sector and the Cap Blanc residential neighbourhood, the project spans nearly two kilometres between Gilmour Hill and Anse Brown along the Champlain Boulevard.

In June 2013, the QPA appointed Réal Lestage to prepare the preliminary concept to make the industrial port area visually consistent with the Promenade Samuel-De Champlain. The Foulon walkway is first and foremost a big step towards urban coexistence. The project will also allow the port to participate in the community’s sustained efforts to turn Champlain Boulevard into the city of Québec’s most prestigious point of entry while carving out a special place for Québec’s maritime history.

The port’s walkway project also includes a redesigned cycling path; the addition of a pedestrian path, lookouts and observation points; features that highlight port heritage; and the creation of typical port street furniture.

“I am pleased to be presenting this project to the people. It stemmed from our desire to ensure the best possible integration of port activities into the urban fabric, especially by highlighting the port’s heritage, which is a key ingredient of the personality of the Québec community,” said Mario Girard.

Starting today until October 17, a web-based consultation will be held on the port’s website, at www.portquebec.ca. Individuals and interest groups are welcome to review the preliminary design, and provide their comments and suggestions.

Schedule-wise, 2015 will be set aside for completing plans and specifications, as well as finishing the financing package for the project, which will require an estimated $12 million investment. The QPA plans to begin construction in the summer of 2016 to deliver the project in 2017.

The Port of Québec manages a 35 km2 water body and about 222 hectares of land, 20% of which is dedicated to recreational activities in the heart of the city of Québec. Each commercial ship docked at the port injects an average of $600,000 into the economy, primarily in the Québec region. Over 1,200 ships dock at the Port of Québec every year. The port plays the role of a maritime hub, creating 5,000 direct and indirect jobs in Greater Québec, according to the most recent study by SECOR.

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For additional information:

 
Frédéric Lagacé
Assistant Director, Public Relations and Strategic Content
Phone: 418-648-3640
frédé[email protected]