This Wednesday, June 26, Développement Vaudreuil-Soulanges (DEV) and the Chambre de commerce et d'industrie de Vaudreuil-Soulanges (CCIVS) met at Château Vaudreuil to address a critical issue affecting the region's economic security: the closures and impediments on the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge. The purpose of the meeting? To unveil the findings of a survey conducted by Léger 360. 

Among the guests in attendance were Pierjean Savard, owner of Conteneurs Expert and president of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges industrial committee; Patrick Bousez, mayor of Rivière-Beaudette and prefect of the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC; Odette Lalonde and Pierre Séguin, initiators of the Pour une vraie 20 petition; Bruno Roy, municipal councillor and mayor of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot; and Marie-Claude Nichols, MP for Vaudreuil. 

In front of numerous elected officials and representatives from the business community, the two organizations highlighted the serious economic repercussions and day-to-day challenges faced by businesses as a result of these disruptions. Their findings are based on a survey of 400 companies conducted by Léger 360 between May 3 and 19. 

Located on Canada's main economic axis, the Ontario-Quebec trade corridor, the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC handles nearly 30 million crossings per year on the Félix-Leclerc (A-40) highway and the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge, as well as 20 million crossings on the Autoroute du Souvenir (A-20) and the Galipeau bridge. As a result, by the time the new bridge is completed, over 100 million vehicles will have travelled on these two highways.

Profound economic impacts

"The current situation is unacceptable, and the status quo is not an option," says Serge Ouellet, President of the CCIVS. "All businesses in and around Vaudreuil-Soulanges are impacted by the situation, regardless of their type of activity," adds Mr. Ouellet, reminding us that "the situation would not be so catastrophic if the various governments, one after the other over the years, had been proactive in the transportation file for the Vaudreuil-Soulanges region, which is at the heart of Quebec's logistics. 

Léger survey results are unequivocal

The results of Léger's survey reveal disturbing facts about the impact of bridge obstructions and closures on Vaudreuil-Soulanges businesses, and were presented by Mathieu Miljours, General Manager of the CCIVS :

- A threat to business survival:

83% of businesses feel that the closures threaten their activity. A similar proportion (89%) consider that this situation has a rather negative overall impact on their business, particularly those close to the bridge (92%) and those located along the island zone, on Ile Perrot (96%). 

The average loss of profitability is estimated at 31.4%, with a 30.6% drop in traffic.

- Several transportation-related issues:

87% of companies indicated that transportation was the most significant issue for respondents. 

75% of companies surveyed felt that the total or partial closure of the bridge would cause minor or major constraints on the receipt and shipment of their products or materials. This is even more true for companies in the construction, manufacturing and wholesale sectors (91%). 

Far more companies in the professional and technical services sector (42%) claim that this situation causes no constraints.  

- Significant impact on human resources:

79% of companies report problems with absenteeism and lateness.
77% have had to adapt their working hours, and 63% are experiencing recruitment difficulties. 88% of companies agree that this has a significant impact on employee travel time. Companies estimate that around 40% of employees would be affected by transportation issues to get to company premises. 

- Dissatisfaction with government communications:

71% of companies say they are dissatisfied with communications about the work. 23% were satisfied. 

The full results of this study will be released in the coming days. 

To read also: 

- Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge: start of shoring work under the structure; 

- Highway 20: “Politically, we're not there yet” - Pierre Séguin;

- Highway 20: A citizens' movement launches a petition