Municipalité régionale de comté (MRC) d’Argenteuil council is pleased the Québec government is taking action on improving safety on the two-lane sections of Autoroute 50, but it would like the implementation of those measures to proceed more quickly.

On July 5, the Québec government recently announced that the Sûreté du Québec is increasing enforcement against speeding and other unsafe driving on the mostly two-lane, 87-kilometre section of highway between Lachute and L’Ange-Gardien. The Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec is implementing a public safety campaign, and an assessment is being made to determine of a median barrier and additional lighting should be constructed on the two-lane sections of road. Photo radar could also be introduced along the highway before the end of 2024.

Since 2017, the MRC d’Argenteuil has increased its requests to the government of Québec for improved safety along the dangerous highway. Between 2012 and 2022, there were 34 fatal collisions, 81 serious collisions, and 846 minor collisions along Autoroute 50.

A statement issued by the MRC d’Argenteuil on July 12 explains council is reassured that the government has been sensitive to numerous representations from municipal leaders demanding an increased safety measures on Autoroute 50, and that it welcomes the measures announced on July 5, it “deplores” the delay in implementing some of these measures until 2026.

“Although the MRC d’Argenteuil is satisfied with the government’s commitment to implementing security measures, we are of the opinion that the presented schedule is much too long. At the rate at which accidents have occurred one after the other over the last few months, we are very concerned that other lives are being destroyed due to work that is slow to get underway,” Prefect Scott Pearce said.

The MRC d’Argenteuil has also decided to be proactive and decided to launch its own regional awareness campaign for safety on Autoroute 50, which will be rolled out over the coming days.

Advertising panels will be installed near ramps and will also be rolled out on Web platforms and social networks of the MRC d’Argenteuil and local municipalities.

The MRC d’Argenteuil intends to continue its pressure on the government for improved safety on Autoroute 50.