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The electrical system upgrade project between Aqueduc and Saraguay substations is now at the permitting phase. Once the environmental impact assessment is deemed eligible by the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs, the ministry will assign a mandate to the Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement (BAPE).
Do you have any questions about the project? Consult the FAQ prepared following the consultations. If you don’t find a response to your question, please contact us. For updates on the project’s progress, sign up for our Info-Project newsletter.
FAQ
Will the line produce more intense electric and magnetic fields, given that it will be of a higher voltage?
Based on the tests conducted, the new line’s magnetic field will be weaker than that of the current line because the cables will be further from the ground and the current flowing in the cables will be weaker.
As for the electric field, it will increase slightly but will remain well below the recommended exposure limit. It will therefore comply with international standards at all times and will be perfectly safe.
Want to know more? Consult our website about electric and magnetic fields.
Why not underground the line?
The current line is an overhead line. Overhead lines have many advantages compared with underground lines: they last twice as long, their transmission capacity is higher and they are less expensive. In addition, they are much simpler to build and repair, when necessary.
For all these reasons, an overhead line was selected for this project.
Will the new line make noise?
The noise level from the 315-kV line will be less than current noise levels in the various areas crossed by the line.
Will the work have a significant impact on traffic and quality of life in general?
The work will be announced in advance and signage will be set up if temporary traffic disruptions are necessary. The work will take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Other mitigation measures will help us minimize the impact on residents’ quality of life.
Following the line and substation construction work, Hydro-Québec and its municipal partners will work together to establish a green corridor along the right-of-way to improve quality of life for residents. The aim is to promote biodiversity, connectivity and sustainable mobility in the right-of-way, particularly in Montréal-Ouest and Saint-Laurent.
Hydro-Québec will aim to keep as many trees as possible in the right-of-way.
When will the construction work take place?
The different stages of the work will occur between 2026 and 2037. As the stages approach, Hydro‑Québec will provide more detailed messages, such as in Project News bulletins.
Documentation
Bulletins
- Project presentation bulletin – 2019 [PDF 1,4 MB]
- Newsletter for Saint-Laurent and Mont-Royal (PDF in French only) – 2023 [PDF 408 KB]
- Newsletter for Côte‑Saint‑Luc – 2023 [PDF 398 KB]
- Newsletter for Hampstead and Côte-des-Neiges – 2023 [PDF 418 KB]
- Newsletter for Montréal-Ouest – 2023 [PDF 458 KB]
- Newsletter for Lachine – 2023 [PDF 383 KB]
Info-Project
- Info-Project - Aqueduc‑Saraguay project- May 17, 2023
- Info-Project- Aqueduc-Saraguay project- December 20, 2019
- Info-Project- Aqueduc-Saraguay project- June 11, 2019
Press releases and documents about the project
Contact us
Info-Project – Aqueduc-Saraguay project
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