WINTER SPORTS BRIDGE

Being part of the huge province wide network of snowmobile trails used by winter sports fanatics around the world, this showcase bridge, the largest of it's kind, needed to look good now and far into the future.

The origin of the city name is from a Mi'kmaq word meaning 'beaver pond,' and it is not surprising Matane is a great natural destination! Situated at the junction of the Matane River and the mighty St. Lawrence River, which at this point is now 50 miles wide and salt water with 12 foot tides, Matane was primarily a maritime city but tourism has now become the biggest industry.  

"Being part of the huge province wide network of snowmobile trails used by winter sports fanatics around the world, this showcase bridge, the largest of it's kind, needed to look good now and far into the future."

After nearly three years of effort, the 353 multipurpose bridge now connects the Grand Detour Park and Camping de la Rivière Matane replacing an old wooden dam demolished in 1981. This cable-stayed bridge is unique in Eastern Québec. It crosses the Matane River with a span of 107 meters and 3.6 meters of roadway. With a carrying capacity of 8000 kg, it facilitates the movement of quads, snowmobiles, and the much heavier trail grooming machines that maintain 352 km of trails. When the snow disappears, hikers and cyclists, golfers and their karts take over.

‍