“Longueuil wishes to kill multiple birds with one stone” That’s the idea behind the Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté. It’s more than just a bridge. It restores access to the river. It adapts to the needs of citizens. It creates a signature landmark. The Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté integrates the Oka Saint-Hilaire link and showcases the area’s history.
This bridge isn’t just a way to get from point A to point B. It’s a statement. The original bridge was built in the late 70s. But this new Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté, completed in the summer of 2017, is far superior. It’s wider and almost twice as long as the old one.
Notice the lighting. The Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté uses modern LED lights. It is even cleared of snow in the winter. This ensures year-round access to the river.
Look to the north side of the Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté. There’s a beautiful belvedere. It offers stunning views of the river and Old Longueuil. Longueuil wanted to create a focal point. From Saint-Catherine to Varennes, there wasn’t a single belvedere. This gives citizens of Longueuil and users of La Riveraine trail and the Oka Saint-Hilaire link a place to gather.
The approaches to the Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté are designed for everyone. The slopes are a maximum of 5%. This allows pedestrians, cyclists, and people with reduced mobility to move easily. On the river side, the descent forms a large spiral. On the park side, the approach is a serpentine. This minimizes the space used.
The Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté is 4.5 meters wide. This is wider than a traditional bike path. It’s also wider than the old bridge.
The landscaping around the Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté was carefully planned. It brings the structure down to a human scale. Even some of the old bridge remains. The concrete from the old approaches was crushed and reused for the embankments.
The city also considered integrating recovered ash wood. This is due to the many trees that were cut down because of the emerald ash borer. Longueuil didn’t want to simply rebuild what was done in the 70s. They wanted to create something beautiful. They wanted to incorporate the wishes of the citizens.
Improved accessibility, larger spaces, and better lighting were common requests. The Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté has it all. It is a true enhancement of the riverfront. It is an extension of Marie-Victorin Park.
The Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté helps showcase the historical character of Le Moyne Park. It also highlights the Lamarre house. This house is home to the Longueuil Historical Society. The city wanted to go beyond traditional interpretive panels. They wanted a modern approach to history.
Near the house, there’s a picnic stop with an interactive display. People can use their cell phones to access augmented reality. This allows them to discover the historical aspects of the area. The Passerelle du Parc Jean-Pierre-Côté connects you to the past and present. It offers a glimpse into the future of Longueuil.