The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility is expected to present its findings for adding passing lanes on Highway 20 between Rimouski and Mont-Joli. Local officials, however, view this as an inadequate response compared to their petition for a four-lane expansion following recent fatal accidents, including one involving Arianne Dubé. Ensuring safety on this stretch is critical, especially with increasing traffic due to the upcoming opening of a Costco store in the area.
The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD) is expected to present its conclusions in the coming weeks regarding the addition of passing lanes on Highway 20 between Rimouski and Mont-Joli—a proposal deemed inadequate by local officials.
The ministry has been considering this option since February, when a petition with over 10,000 signatures was submitted to the National Assembly, advocating instead for a four-lane expansion of the highway section perceived as hazardous by residents.
In 2023 and 2024, four individuals tragically lost their lives in road accidents in this area. One of these fatalities, that of Arianne Dubé, prompted the coroner to officially recommend widening the highway to include a central median.
Coroner Monique Tremblay stated in her report, “We can reasonably believe that if this highway had been designed with a central median, Ms. Dubé might have had some maneuverability to react when she drifted out of her lane.”
Ironically, Ms. Dubé’s fatal accident occurred on one of the few passing lanes already constructed on this stretch of the highway.
During an interview, Pascal Bérubé, the Péquiste deputy for Matane-Matapédia and a key figure behind the February petition, expressed frustration: “I don’t know what else to say. The community, the officials, and the coroner share the same view, yet the ministry has chosen to disregard it. […] This is an irresponsible stance!”
Bruno Paradis, the prefect of the Mitis MRC, views the ministry’s plan as a “response to road safety imperatives” and hopes for the construction of at least eight lanes in both directions within the next two years.
“But I would like us to think long-term—30, 40, or 50 years ahead—because we will need this stretch of highway for a long time,” noted Mr. Paradis.
Meanwhile, Francis St-Pierre, the prefect of the Rimouski-Neigette MRC, remains skeptical about the “promises” made by CAQ officials during their caucus in Rimouski last September.
“At my age, I don’t believe in these kinds of promises anymore,” he remarked.
The Costco Effect
Local officials and Coroner Tremblay point out that the average daily traffic volume in this area is 8,100 vehicles. However, four-lane highways with median barriers often have lower volumes, such as Route 175 between Quebec and Saguenay, which sees an average of 5,600 vehicles per day.
Moreover, traffic between Mont-Joli and Rimouski may increase due to the impending opening of a Costco—a long-anticipated project for the region.
“People from Matapédia, Gaspésie, and New Brunswick will travel more frequently to Rimouski,” predicted Bruno Paradis. “We witnessed a similar effect when Walmart opened. The same, if not worse, will happen with Costco.”
According to an email from the MTMD, the decision to opt for passing lanes was made to ensure it could be “implemented more quickly than a major expansion project.”
“We are not ruling out a complete widening of this section, but currently, we prioritize a solution that will enhance safety in the short term,” added the office of the regional minister, Maïté Blanchette Vézina.
Recent Fatal Accidents on This Highway Section
- February 14, 2024: A 40-year-old man died after colliding with a heavy truck;
- November 16, 2023: Arianne Dubé, 28, died after her car struck two other vehicles on the highway;
- October 12, 2023: Two motorists died after a head-on collision in the Sainte-Flavie area.