Current and emerging challenges in road risk management in Québec

With an area of 1,700,000 km, Québec offers a climate with major temperature variations, given its geographic features. In addition, there are special conditions: the St. Lawrence River, which runs through marine clay deposits recognized as sensitive; many lakes, reservoirs and hydroelectric dams; several airports in isolated regions; a road network estimated at 320,000 km. The Ministère des Transports du Québec (MTQ) manages and maintains 30,400km of this network (highway system), including some 10,000 structures (bridges, overpasses and other). Most of the transportation infrastructures were built from 1960 to 1980 on the basis of knowledge which has evolved considerably since then; the transportation infrastructures were designed on the basis of climate scenarios, which today are being reconsidered or modified. The main risks confronting Québec are: melting of the permafrost in northern Québec, shoreline erosion in coastal environments along the St. Lawrence and in the Gulf, forest fires, floods due to high-water levels and high tides, landslides, freezing rain and other extreme winter conditions, and transport of heavy equipment and hazardous materials. The MTQ has adopted some risk management tools and is pursuing research and development regarding roads and structures to implement solutions adapted to the Québec context. In a context of budget restrictions, the MTQ must target and prioritize its interventions wisely and prepare to deal with emerging challenges, generated by climate change or resulting from the interdependence of essential transportation systems. To this effect, integrated risk management, based on objective, reliable and verifiable multidisciplinary data and on rigorous and well-documented methodologies, is still the preferred approach.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://www.piarc.org/en/order-library/13949-en-Proceedings%20of%20the%20XXIVth%20World%20Road%20Congress,%20Mexico%20-%202011.htm
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission of the World Road Association – PIARC.
• Corporate Authors:

  World Road Association (PIARC)

  La Grande Arche, Paroi Nord, Niveau 5
  F-92055 La Defense Cedex,   France 
• Authors:
  • Legault, J
• Conference:
  • 24th World Road Congress
  • Location: Mexico City , Mexico
  • Date: 2011-9-26 to 2011-9-30
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16p
• Monograph Title: 24th World Road Congress Proceedings: Roads for a Better Life: Mobility, Sustainability and Development

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Erosion control; Flood protection; Highways; Infrastructure; Risk analysis; Risk management; Roads; Strategic planning; Weather conditions
• Geographic Terms: Quebec (Province)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Security and Emergencies; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01506038
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 2840602679
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jan 29 2014 1:51PM