Quebec Autoroute 73

Autoroute 73 (also called Autoroute Robert-Cliche south of Quebec City and Autoroute Laurentienne to the north) is an important Autoroute in east-central Quebec. A-73 provides an important freeway connection to areas to the north and south of Quebec City, starting in the Beauce region and (currently) ending in the Laurentian Mountains north of Quebec City. Future extensions will take it farther north and south, into the Saguenay region and possibly to near the Maine border. Including multiplexes, A-73 is currently 106 km (66 miles) long.

Related Topics:
Quebec City - Autoroute - Quebec - Beauce - Laurentian Mountains - Saguenay - Maine

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A-73 currently begins at Route 276 in Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce as a "Super-2" expressway. It widens to a 4-lane freeway after 22 km (14 miles) in Sainte-Marie. Just after crossing A-20 in Lévis, A-73 crosses the Pierre Laporte Bridge (the longest suspension bridge in Canada) into Quebec City. By 2007, A-73 is expected to continue further south into Beauceville and further extensions to Saint-Georges are expected to follow. http://www1.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/regions/chaudiere/a73.asp

Related Topics:
Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce - Super-2 - Expressway - Freeway - Sainte-Marie - A-20 - Lévis - Pierre Laporte Bridge - Suspension bridge - Canada - 2007 - Beauceville - Saint-Georges

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For 10 km (6 miles) through Quebec City, A-73 is multiplexed with A-40, partially using A-73 exit numbers and partially using A-40 numbers. The routes split at a cloverleaf interchange, where A-73 joins the Autoroute Laurentienne (which in itself continues into downtown Quebec City, signed as Route 175 only but secretly known as Autoroute 973).

Related Topics:
A-40 - Cloverleaf interchange - Autoroute 973

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Heading north, A-73 continues as a multilane freeway north to Stoneham where it currently transitions into a brief Super-2 before converting to a 2-lane conventional highway as Route 175. However, extensions of A-73 are planned and under construction; it will be a 4-lane freeway or at-grade expressway all the way north to Saguenay. http://www.bape.gouv.qc.ca/sections/mandats/r175-60_227/documents/liste_document_60-84.htm#PR It is unclear whether the long northern extension will be signed as A-73 or Route 175. It is expected to be completed to north of Stoneham by 2007 and Saguenay by 2011.

Related Topics:
Stoneham - Saguenay - 2007 - 2011

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Due to the alignment change and the fact that both sections continue for a short distance as Autoroutes, some have suggested that the Laurentienne section of A-73 (along with unsigned A-973) be given a new designation, the most common (and most logical due to the fact it would be replacing Route 175) suggestion is Autoroute 75. It is unlikely that it will take place however.

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