In particular, towers will be built on sections of routes 132, 299 and 138. (File photo)
The Government of Quebec is granting nearly $21 million to improve cellular coverage in several regions of Quebec.
This envelope will be used to serve key portions of the Côte-Nord, Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie routes.
On Route 132, four towers will be built in the MRCs of Avignon and La Matapédia.
To improve cellular coverage on Route 299, which crosses the Parc de la Gaspésie , and Route 195, eight towers spread over the RCMs of La Haute-Gaspésie, La Matanie, La Matapédia and Bonaventure will be erected.
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On the North Shore, six communication towers will be built along Route 138 in the MRCs of Minganie and Sept-Rivières.
Three towers will be located on Route 389 at north of Baie-Comeau, up to the height of the Manic-2 generating station.
Other projects are planned in Chaudière-Appalaches.
The companies TELUS Communications and Sogetel Mobilité will share the money from Quebec for carrying out the work.
Almost all of the envelope, or 20 million, will go to TELUS for the construction of the new cell towers.
François Legault had promised during the election campaign to complete the coverage on Quebec territory by the end of his second term.
Matane-Matapédia MP Pascal Bérubé does not want to be happy about what he calls a government intention .
I learn of the government's intention and I sincerely hope that it works quickly. That's when we can rejoice and congratulate the government, says Mr. Bérubé.
The Parti Québécois member would like to know more about the timeline and technologies being considered for the projects.
The prefect of the MRC de Manicouagan, Marcel Furlong, says he is very pleased with the announcement, but also somewhat disappointed that the coverage envisaged is not broader. Probably it's a step. We will see in the future where that will take us, he believes.
The mayor of Sept-Îles, Alain Thibault, as well as the mayor of Saint-René- de-Matane, Rémi Fortin, said they were happy with the news. They say this is a long-standing request and that finally road users will have safe cell coverage.
