Widening of Vanier Road moves into feasibility study

Taylor Clark

After years of discussion, Gatineau has finally embarked on the feasibility study for the widening Vanier Road, between Pink and Aylmer Roads, with the environmental impact study to follow.

“We have an obligation, particularly through the environmental impact study, to ensure that the majority of people understand the progress of the file and can contribute at different stages,” interim director of urban planning and sustainable development Catherine Marchand told the Commission sur les transports, les déplacements durables et la sécurité on September 19.

Changing little since being the main thoroughfare in the 19^th century, the roadway consists of no sidewalk or cycling path and little street lighting. Crossing the western sector of Gatineau from north to south, traffic issues have manifested along the axis over the years, particularly at the intersection of Boulevard des Allumetières, which falls under provincial jurisdiction. The current and anticipated levels of traffic have now made it necessary for the city to implement measures so as not to compromise its future travel capacity.

“We’re moving toward a much more extensive network that will not only include the tramway but also more extensive transport services,” said Marchand.

Vanier has been the subject of a development plan that included the proposal to widen the road to four lanes. The proposal was at the centre of a study in 2015, and the results led to another study in 2019 to find temporary measures to overcome the traffic issues.

The city adopted a regulation in 2023 “decreeing an interim control along Vanier Road between Pink Road and Aylmer Road,” to undertake the steps leading to the widening of the roadway after insufficient municipal influence and real estate growth in the sector.

Earlier this summer, the executive committee awarded a $2.85 million contract to WSP, an environmental consulting company, to carry out the required studies. Work of this scale involves government authorization and Gatineau hopes to complete the preliminary steps to obtain this approval in three years.

The feasibility study was expected to wrap up in April 2026 and led into the environmental impact study that will be filed with the Ministry of Environment, Fight Against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. After government approval, the city can move on with the design and complete the work.

In the meantime, Gatineau will host information and consultation processes to keep citizens up to date on the project.

“From day one,” Marchand stated, “we want to make sure that we consult the people who are the beneficiaries or those who are impacted by the proposals that will be made to ensure transparency throughout the process.”

The city planned to complete all its informative sessions by June 2026 and commence work by 2030.