The Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine Bridge–Tunnel

This exhibition revisits the eras that shaped the story of the bridge-tunnel and the two communities it connects: Longue-Pointe and Boucherville. Historically, an unshakeable bond has united these two towns. Both developed in the city’s periphery, both shared a connection with the river and both communicated together through a maritime link going back as far as the New France era. The two have held on to their village’s identity until the 1960s despite the rapid modernization of Montreal in the 20^th century.

The construction of the bridge-tunnel was not the result of any passing political whim, but rather the culmination of a complex reflection process that took into account several players and factors in connection with the Quiet Revolution. Since its inauguration, the bridge-tunnel has left an indelible mark on both shores. In Montreal, its construction has led to the almost complete destruction of the town of Longue-Pointe, while paradoxically speeding up urbanization on the south shore.