A major tourism project is launched

Off-road vehicles

Dolbeau-Mistassini, May 22, 2018. — Today was the grand opening of the Passerelle du 49e, a major tourism project offering off-road vehicle enthusiasts over 236 km of trails. Altogether, this project has received nearly $1.4 million in funding from the Government of Québec as part of the Programme d’aide financière aux véhicules hors route – Infrastructures et protection de la faune (financial aid program for off-road vehicles – infrastructure and wildlife protection) and the Société du Plan Nord. The Passerelle du 49^e consists of a trail for ATV drivers and snowmobilers alike. It will connect the Monts-Valin trails in the east with the Chibougamau trails in the west, the trails in the Mont-Apica and Québec City regions in the south, and the trails in the James Bay region and Otish Mountains in the north. This project was carried out with respect for the shared uses of the public forest and in collaboration with the Mashteuiatsh Indigenous community.

Additional funding granted as part of the Programme d’aide financière spécial pour améliorer la sécurité en véhicules hors route (special financial aid program to improve security for off-road vehicles) for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean area was also announced. Over $1 million in funding is given to clubs and organizations in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean area to support 16 projects that will improve infrastructure for off-road vehicles and, above all, promote both ATV and snowmobile safety.

Quotes:

The snowmobile and ATV industry is without a doubt a major driver of development for Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, and our government is proud to support it. The Passerelle du 49^e, which we are opening today, is a case in point: a lasting and permanent trail, benefiting from Québec’s most constant snow conditions. It will offer snowmobilers greater and safer access to the area. It’s a major project that will attract more visitors to Québec and highlight all the recreational tourism that this vast and beautiful region has to offer.

– Philippe Couillard, Premier of Québec, Minister responsible for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region and Member for Roberval

The safe and accessible enjoyment of ATVs and snowmobiles: that is our commitment to those who use Québec’s off-road trails. The funding announced today will give a great boost to off-road clubs and organizations that face certain security issues and that constantly make efforts to ensure the sustainability of the trails and the safety of off-road enthusiasts.

– Véronyque Tremblay, Minister for Transport

List of projects funded as part of the Programme d’aide financière spécial pour améliorer la sécurité en véhicules hors route (special financial aid program to improve security for off-road vehicles) for the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean area

• Club quad Passion Nature
  Building a 2-kilometre trail (Petit Rang)
  $11,971.42
• Société de gestion du Parc régional des Grandes-Rivières, RCM of Maria-Chapdelaine
  Repairing a bridge and adding a path for crossing the Ouasiemsca River in the RCM of Maria-Chapdelaine (Passerelle du 49^e)
  $299,760.00
• Ville de Saguenay
  Carrying out a feasibility study to rebuild the Price Bridge
  $15,750.00
• Club de motoneige du Fjord inc.
  Rebuilding the bridge over the Saint-Jean River, 30 metres in length
  $243,100.00
• Association de motoneigistes Boule de neige inc.
  Widening the L 601 trail over a distance of 12 km
  $16,306.00
• Club quad de la Montagne
  Improving the provincial trail
  $35,235.00
• Club quad Saguenay
  Improving the provincial trail
  $6,000.00
• Club de motoneige Caribou-Conscrits inc.
  Resurfacing of a trail over 1.7 km, Saint-Fulgence sector
  $57,000.00
• Club quad Passion Nature
  Building a trail in the Bérubé area
  $8,122.02
• Club de motoneige Caribou-Conscrits inc.
  Building a bridge and installing culverts at the Onatchiway way station (29 km)
  $56,859.75
• Club quad Aventure Valin
  Rebuilding the “Rodéo Drive” trail
  $15,397.58
• Club Relais des buttes inc.
  Relocating the 373 regional trail (Rivière aux Saumons)
  $58,087.50
• Club de motoneige Les Loups du Nord inc.
  Rebuilding the Rivière aux Trembles bridge on the TQ 93 trail in the Ashuapmushuan wildlife reserve
  $90,000.00
• Club de motoneigistes du Saguenay inc.
  Building a parallel culvert located above the Bras du Coco Creek, following the relocation of the R-383 trail
  $38,261.25
• Club de motoneigistes du Saguenay inc.
  Installing a parallel culvert for the Bras Rocheux Creek
  $27,382.06
• Club de motoneige Les Loups du Nord inc.
  Rebuilding the TQ 93 trail in the Ashuapmushuan wildlife reserve
  $24,577.50
• Total
  $1,003,810.08