Did you know?
A drop of water that passes through a Rapide‑7 turbine takes a full six hours to get to Rapide‑2, where it will go through another turbine.
Bridge repairs at the Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 generating stations
Closure of the bridges to all traffic
Rapide‑7 : May 2021 to December 2025
Rapide‑2 : May 2023 to December 2027
Project overview
Hydro-Québec is undertaking major work at Rapide‑2 and Rapide‑7 generating stations, located in Ville de Rouyn‑Noranda. The decks on both bridges will be demolished and completely rebuilt. A “deck” is the surface that serves as a roadway for vehicles travelling from one side of the river to the other. The repairs also extend to concrete structures beneath the bridges.
This will take several years, and the Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 bridges will be closed to all traffic for the duration of the work.
Hydro‑Québec will invest over $250 million to breathe new life into its concrete structures
Video: Work on concrete structures of Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 generating facilities
The detour shown with a red dotted line is approximately 5 km long.
Duration: 1 minutes 37 seconds
Transcription of the video Work on concrete structures of Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 generating facilities
- 00:07Hydro-Québec is making major investments in its facilities
- 00:12to ensure the safety and long-term operability of its assets.
- 00:15Work is planned for Rapide-2 and Rapide-7.
- 00:19Both are in the territory of Rouyn-Noranda
- 00:22This work means that vacationers, anglers
- 00:24and hunters will have to adapt their travel habits.
- 00:28There is substantial damage to the decks of Rapide-2 and Rapide-7
- 00:32that could lead to their closure for safety reasons.
- 00:36These decks have reached the end of their useful life.
- 00:40They were built at the same time as the generating stations.
- 00:44For Rapide-7, that was in 1939, and 1951 for Rapide-2.
- 00:49The work involves the concrete structures.
- 00:53The decks will be demolished and rebuilt according to the new standards,
- 00:57and we are also investing in the spillways themselves.
- 01:02At Rapide-2 generating station,
- 01:04we will also replace the gate and its lifting mechanism.
- 01:09We are also going to repurpose the houses on the site
- 01:12in order to convert them into jobsite offices
- 01:15for Hydro-Québec employees and contractors.
- 01:19At Rapide-7, traffic will be rerouted
- 01:22onto a forest road and concrete bridge.
- 01:26There is additional information on the project page
- 01:29on Hydro-Québec’s website.
Work schedule
| Phase | Period |
|---|---|
|
Bridge demolition/reconstruction Repairs to the spillway’s concrete structures Wooden access ramp replaced with a steel structure |
May 2021 to December 2025 |
| Reopening of the bridge (planned) | January 2026 |
| Phase | Period |
|---|---|
|
Bridge demolition/reconstruction Repairs to the spillway’s concrete structures |
Spring 2023 to December 2026 |
|
Replacement of remote-controlled gate |
June to December 2027 |
| Reopening of the bridge (planned) | January 2028 |
Info-Project – Bridge repairs at the Rapide‑7 and Rapide‑2 generating stations
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