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The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has approved the construction of a railway bypass in Lac-M\u00e9gantic Que., 13 years after the deadly rail disaster killed 47 people and left much of the downtown incinerated. <\/p>\n
The project will include 12.5 kilometres of new track and related infrastructure to permanently reroute trains from downtown Lac-M\u00e9gantic, where the train carrying crude oil crashed in 2013. <\/p>\n
The city initially proposed the construction of a bypass after the derailment and both the government of Canada and Quebec committed to financing the project in 2018. <\/p>\n
The CTA’s decision comes after a months-long public consultation process conducted by the CTA, and engagement with Indigenous communities who may be affected by the project carried out by Transport Canada. <\/p>\n
In a news release published Thursday, Federal Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon\u00a0called the approval of the construction a “significant step forward” for residents of Lac-M\u00e9gantic. <\/p>\n
“This decision brings us closer to the start of construction on a\u00a0long-awaited\u00a0project that will help improve the community\u2019s safety and quality of life,” he said. <\/p>\n
For years, some residents surrounding Lac-M\u00e9gantic have opposed the bypass system \u2014 highlighting its potential impact on their property and environment.<\/p>\n
At one consultation session in December, citizens voiced concerns about the environmental impact of the proposed route, and the potential damage to wetlands and water supply. <\/p>\n