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Rebuilding the Highway

Black and white photograph of the work on the Trans-Gaspésien road. In a forest landscape, on a steep slope, construction workers operate heavy machinery to do the road preparation work.

Photograph

Work on the transgaspésienne highway, 1952

E.L. Désilets

Biliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

Ministère de la Culture et des Communications Fonds

E6,S7,SS1,P94757

By the 1950s, the Perron Boulevard was thought to be old and antiquated. Barely wide enough for two vehicles, it was thought to be dangerous and in need of serious repair.

Major work was undertaken by the Duplessis government to improve the highway. And the first “transgaspésienne” highway was constructed to link Mont-Albert to New Richmond. With the new highway, the popularity of the Parc de la Gaspésie grew by leaps and bounds, from 11,000 cars in 1952 to almost 92,000 vehicles just five years later.