By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Sherbrooke will see an unprecedented $74.9 million in roadwork and infrastructure projects this summer, the highest investment since 2020. At a press conference on Apr. 3, city officials presented a detailed breakdown of 97 planned interventions, including resurfacing, sewer reconstruction, sidewalk construction, and cycling infrastructure.
“Talking about roadwork may not be glamorous, but it affects all of us,” said Sherbrooke Mayor Évelyne Beaudin, the first of four speakers. “This year marks a record level of investment.”
According to Beaudin, $49.8 million will be spent on surface roadwork, while $25.1 million is allocated to water systems, environmental cleanup, and project planning for future years. “We’ve significantly increased the city’s investments,” she said, citing a 94 per cent rise in sewer and aqueduct work, a 50 per cent jump in paving, and a 12 per cent boost in active transportation.
She also underscored Sherbrooke’s hybrid construction model. “It’s pretty rare in Québec,” Beaudin said. “A good portion of our work is done by internal teams, which makes us more agile and allows us to start earlier in the season.”
What to expect: The city’s most disruptive work sites
While over 90 projects are scheduled across the city, several will cause significant and lasting disruptions. Among them:
- King Ouest, between Léger/Bertrand-Fabi and Sauvé/Comtois, will see reduced lanes for more than two weeks. With around 50,000 vehicles daily, it’s among the city’s busiest arteries.
- Boulevard de l’Université and rue Galt Ouest, near Autoroute 410, will undergo resurfacing expected to last at least four weeks.
- The King/Jacques-Cartier intersection will be under construction for approximately a week, with night-time work scheduled to limit daytime congestion.
- In the downtown core, Wellington Sud will be completely closed for a month as part of a private developer’s project. After that, sporadic closures are expected to continue for nearly a year.
- The Jacques-Cartier Bridge, under the authority of the MTMD, will see months of disruptions, contributing to long-term slowdowns.
- In Fleurimont, Bowen Sud will be completely closed for three weeks for underground infrastructure reconstruction.
- In Lennoxville, only minor work is planned, including a two-day closure of the St. Francis bridge near Bishop’s University for paving.
All works are listed on the city’s interactive construction map at sherbrooke.ca/travaux.
