Quebec Autoroute 73

{{short description|Highway in Quebec}} {{More citations needed|date=July 2023}} {{Expand French|topic=transp}} {{Infobox road |province=QC |type=Autoroute |route=73 |alternate_name =Autoroute Robert-Cliche Autoroute Laurentienne Autoroute Henri-IV |maint=Transports Québec |map= {{maplink-road|zoom=7|from=Quebec Autoroute 73.map}} |map_custom=yes |length_km=122.4 |length_round = 1 |length_ref=<ref name="A73">{{cite web |title=Répertoire des autoroutes du Québec - Transports et Mobilité durable Québec |url=https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/info-reseau-routier/repertoire-autoroutes/Pages/repertoire-des-autoroutes-du-Quebec.aspx |website=Ministère des Transports |publisher=Gouvernement du Québec |access-date=April 26, 2023 |language=fr-ca |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412122837/https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/info-reseau-routier/repertoire-autoroutes/Pages/repertoire-des-autoroutes-du-Quebec.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Google"/> |direction_a=South |terminus_a = {{jct|province=QC|R|204}} in [[Saint-Georges, Quebec|Saint-Georges]] |junction = {{jct|province=QC|TCH|20}} in [[Lévis, Quebec|Lévis]] {{jct|province=QC|A|540}} in [[Quebec City]] {{jct|province=QC|A|40}} in Quebec City {{jct|province=QC|A|440|dab1=Quebec City}} in Quebec City {{jct|province=QC|A|573}} in Quebec City {{jct|province=QC|A|740}} in Quebec City {{jct|province=QC|A|973}} in Quebec City |direction_b=North |terminus_b = {{jct|province=QC|R|175|R|371}} in [[Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury]] |cities= [[Quebec City]], [[Lévis, Quebec|Lévis]], [[Saint-Georges, Quebec|Saint-Georges]], [[Sainte-Marie, Quebec|Sainte-Marie]], [[Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury]] |established= 1963<ref name="A73"/> | |previous_type=A |previous_route=70 |next_type=A |next_route=85 }}

'''Autoroute 73''' (or '''A-73''') is an [[Autoroutes of Quebec|autoroute]] in [[Quebec]], Canada. Following a northwest-southeast axis perpendicular to the [[St. Lawrence River]], the A-73 provides an important freeway link with regions north and south of [[Quebec City]], the capital of the province. It also intersects with [[Quebec Autoroute 20|Autoroute 20]] (south of the river) and [[Quebec Autoroute 40|Autoroute 40]] (north of the river) - one of only three Quebec autoroutes to do so. The A-73 begins less than 40 kilometres from the U.S. border in Quebec's [[Beauce, Quebec|Beauce]] region, traverses metropolitan Quebec City, and ends in the [[Laurentian Mountains]]. Civic, political, and business leaders in regions north and south of the A-73's termini have lobbied the Quebec government to extend the autoroute. While the four-laning of [[Quebec Route 175|Route 175]] to [[Saguenay, Quebec|Saguenay]] has alleviated concerns in the north about safety and connectivity, Quebecers in the Beauce continue to advocate for extending the A-73 to the [[Canada–United States border|U.S. border]], towards the [[Armstrong–Jackman Border Crossing]] and [[U.S. Route 201]] within [[Maine]].

==Description==

===Autoroute [[Robert Cliche|Robert-Cliche]]=== The southernmost section of the A-73 is named in honour of Robert Cliche. A lawyer, politician, and judge from Quebec's [[Beauce, Quebec|Beauce]] region, Cliche also served as head of the Quebec branch of the [[New Democratic Party]].

The A-73 begins at a [[roundabout]] junction with [[Quebec Route 204|Route 204]] in [[Saint-Georges, Quebec|Saint-Georges]], tracing the course of the [[Chaudière River]] to its junction with [[Quebec Autoroute 20|Autoroute 20]] in [[Lévis]]. Along the way, the A-73 connects the largest cities and towns in Quebec's historic Beauce region. Exit numbers on the A-73 begin at km 43 (which accounts for an as-yet unbuilt section to the [[Maine]] border). Initially, much of the A-73 south of the Saint Lawrence River was built as a [[Super two|super-two]] (one lane in each direction) highway with no median. Work to expand the autoroute to four lanes was completed in 2016. Motorists wishing to continue [[Armstrong–Jackman Border Crossing|southward to Maine]] must currently travel on [[Quebec Route 173|Route 173]], a two-lane highway.

Approaching metropolitan [[Quebec City]], the A-73 meets the A-20 (co-signed as a section of the [[Trans-Canada Highway]]) at an interchange just south of the Saint Lawrence River. From here, motorists can take the A-20 east to [[Rivière-du-Loup]], [[Rimouski]], and the [[Gaspé Peninsula]]; and west to [[Montreal]], [[Toronto]], and [[Ottawa]] (via [[Quebec Autoroute 40|the A-40]] and [[Ontario Highway 417]]).

The A-73 crosses the Saint Lawrence via the [[Pierre Laporte Bridge]]—the longest suspension bridge in Canada.

The A-73 provides a partial [[beltway]] around metropolitan Quebec to the west and north of the central city. At kilometre 134, the A-73 intersects with [[Quebec Autoroute 540|the A-540]], a [[spur route]] connecting the A-73 and A-40 with the approach to [[Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport|Jean-Lesage International Airport]].

At kilometre 139, the A-73 meets the [[Quebec Autoroute 40|A-40]] and [[Quebec Autoroute 440 (Quebec City)|A-440]]. From here, motorists can take the A-40 west to [[Trois-Rivières]] and Montreal, or the A-440 east to Quebec City centre. North of this interchange, A-73 is signed as a [[Concurrency (road)|concurrency]] with the A-40 for {{convert|10|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}.

===Autoroute [[Félix Leclerc]]=== Once co-signed with the A-40, the A-73 assumes the name assigned to the A-40. Leclerc was a singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and political activist.

The A-73/40 continues north for three kilometres to a junction with [[Quebec Autoroute 573|Autoroute 573]], a spur route that provides access to the [[CFB Valcartier]] military base. At this intersection, the A-73/40 exit the autoroute, which continues as the A-573. From here, the A-73/40 continues due east, bypassing Quebec City to the north. Whereas the A-73/40 uses A-73 distance-based exit numbers prior to the junction with the A-573, past this point, A-40 distance based exit numbers are used. (This anomaly reflects an unbuilt section of the A-40, which would have started at [[Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures]], bypassed Jean-Lesage Airport to the north, and connected with the present-day A-73/40 at the A-573 interchange.)

The A-73/40 intersects with [[Quebec Autoroute 740|the A-740]] (a spur route connecting [[Quebec City]] with the northern suburbs) at exit 310.

At exit 313, A-73 exits the autoroute at a clovermill interchange. North of the junction, the A-73 continues through Quebec City's northern suburbs. South of the junction, the autoroute is signed as [[Quebec Autoroute 973|Autoroute 973]]. The A-973 is a spur route which terminates just north of Quebec City centre. The A-40 continues eastward for another ten kilometres to a terminus with the A-440 just east of the city centre. [[File:StonehamDeLa73.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|220x220px|View of A-73 in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury]]

===Autoroute Laurentienne=== The most northerly section of the A-73 is named for the [[Laurentian Mountains]], a popular destination for outdoor sports north of Quebec City.

After the split with the A-40, the A-73 enters the foothills of the Laurentians. The autoroute provides access to the [[Stoneham Mountain Resort]] at kilometre 167 and bypasses [[Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury|Stoneham and Tewkesbury]] to the east. This stretch is cosigned with [[Quebec Route 175|Route 175]]. The A-73 ends at [[Quebec Route 371|Route 371]] in Stoneham.<ref name=A73/> The road continues as Route 175, which provides a link between Quebec City and the [[Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean]] region to the north (remaining as a freeway through kilometre 184, although that is not signed as A-73).

==Future== ===Chaudière-Appalaches=== Community leaders continue to press for [[Transports Québec]] to extend the A-73 south to the Maine border.<ref>{{cite web|title=Le prolongement de l'autoroute 73 vers le Maine doit être une priorité selon Maxime Bernier|url=http://www.enbeauce.com/actualites/politique/184398/le-prolongement-de-lautoroute-73-vers-le-maine-doit-etre-une-priorite-selon-maxime-bernier|website=EnBeauce.com|access-date=16 October 2014}}</ref> The issue resurfaced during a 2015 by-elections in [[Beauce-Sud]], when [[Coalition Avenir Québec]] leader [[François Legault]] announced his support for extending the A-73 to Maine as a priority for his party if elected.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Gignac|first1=Gabriel|title=" Le prolongement de l'autoroute 73 jusqu'au Maine est notre priorité " — François Legault|url=http://www.enbeauce.com/actualites/politique/278261/-le-prolongement-de-lautoroute-73-jusquau-maine-est-notre-priorite-francois-legault|website=EnBeauce.com|access-date=30 October 2015|archive-date=31 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031133855/http://www.enbeauce.com/actualites/politique/278261/-le-prolongement-de-lautoroute-73-jusquau-maine-est-notre-priorite-francois-legault|url-status=live}}</ref> For its part, Maine continues to debate private financing, construction, and operation of a proposed [[East–West Highway (New England)|East-West Highway]] linking Quebec with [[the Maritimes|the Maritime Provinces]], possibly through [[Calais, Maine]], very near where [[New Brunswick Route 1]] has had its western terminus [[New Brunswick Route 1#4-lane construction|since October 2012]]. The proposed route, however, would involve connecting with an extended section of [[Quebec Autoroute 10|Autoroute 10]], not the A-73, with the Autoroute 10 crossing some 57 km (35 mi) southwest of it. Maine currently has no plans to convert [[U.S. Route 201]] to [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate]] standards, which would provide an all-freeway connection from Quebec City to [[Interstate 95 in Maine|Interstate 95]].

===Capitale-Nationale=== Between 2003 and 2013, the governments of Quebec and [[Canada]] co-funded reconstruction of Route 175 into a partially-controlled access freeway between the end of A-73 in Stoneham and the junction with [[Quebec Autoroute 70|the A-70]] in [[Saguenay, Quebec|Saguenay]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bape.gouv.qc.ca/sections/mandats/r175-60_227/documents/liste_document_60-84.htm#PR |title=Mandats |access-date=2005-05-10 |archive-date=2006-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061228111849/http://www.bape.gouv.qc.ca/sections/mandats/r175-60_227/documents/liste_document_60-84.htm#PR |url-status=dead }}</ref> This prompted speculation that the A-73 designation would be extended further northward into the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region. As the reconstructed Route 175 (except for the first 17 km north of the current A-73 terminus) is not fully a controlled-access highway, it does not meet Autoroute design standards. Thus, A-73's terminus remains at Stoneham unless and until corresponding sections of Route 175 are upgraded to controlled-access freeway. [[Quebec Autoroute 70]] remains the only autoroute in Quebec that does not directly connect to any other.

==Exit list== {{QCinttop|exit|length_ref=<ref name="Google">{{google maps |title=Quebec Autoroute 73 |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@46.6418151,-71.0160578,9.47z |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref>}} {{QCint|exit |county=Beauce-Sartigan |dspan=3 |location=Saint-Georges |lspan=2 |km=0.0 |exit=43 |road={{jct|state=QC|QC|204|QC|173|US|201|to2=yes|location1=[[Saint-Prosper, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Prosper]]|city2=Saint-Georges|location3={{nowrap|[[Maine]] ([[United States|USA]])}}}} |notes=[[Roundabout]]; A-73 & '''Autoroute Robert-Cliche''' southern terminus; {{convert|41|km|mi|abbr=on}} to [[Armstrong–Jackman Border Crossing|Canada/US border]] }} {{QCint|exit |km=5.3 |exit=48 |road=74e Rue |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |location=Notre-Dame-des-Pins |km=10.0 |exit=53 |road=[[Notre-Dame-des-Pins, Quebec|Notre-Dame-des-Pins]], [[Beauceville]], [[Saint-Simon-les-Mines, Quebec|Saint-Simon-les-Mines]] |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |county=Beauce-Centre |cspan=2 |location=Beauceville |km=17.9 |exit=61 |road=[[Beauceville]], [[Saint-Odilon-de-Cranbourne, Quebec|Saint-Odilon-de-Cranbourne]], [[Lac-Etchemin, Quebec|Lac-Etchemin]] |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |location=Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce |km=28.4 |exit=72 |road={{jct|state=QC|QC|276|city1=Saint-Odilon-de-Cranbourne|city2=Lac-Etchemin|city3=Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |county=La Nouvelle-Beauce |cspan=6 |location_special=[[Saints-Anges, Quebec|Saints-Anges]] – [[Vallée-Jonction, Quebec|Vallée-Jonction]] boundary |km=37.3 |exit=81 |road={{jct|state=QC|QC|112|city1=Vallée-Jonction|city2=Thetford Mines|city3=Saints-Anges|city4=Frampton}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |location=Sainte-Marie |lspan=2 |km=46.8 |exit=91 |road=Route Carter – [[Sainte-Marie, Quebec|Sainte-Marie]] Centre Ville, [[Sainte-Marguerite, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Sainte-Marguerite]], [[Saint-Elzéar, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Elzéar]] |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=50.9 |exit=95 |road=Route Cameron – [[Sainte-Marie, Quebec|Sainte-Marie]] Centre Ville, [[Sainte-Marguerite, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Sainte-Marguerite]], [[Saint-Elzéar, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Elzéar]] |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |location=Scott |km=56.9 |exit=101 |road={{jct|province=QC|QC|173|city1=Scott|city2=Saint-Bernard|city3=Sainte-Hénédine|location4=[[Saint-Henri, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Henri]]}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |location_special=[[Saint-Isidore, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Isidore]] |km=63.7 |exit=108 |road=[[Saint-Isidore, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Isidore]] |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |location=Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon |km=70.9 |exit=115 |road={{jct|province=QC|Route|218|city1=Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon|location2=[[Saint-Henri, Chaudière-Appalaches, Quebec|Saint-Henri]]|city3=Saint-Gilles}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |indep_city=Lévis |lspan=5 |km=78.3 |exit=123 |road={{jct|province=QC|Route|175|name1=Avenue St-Augustin}} |notes=}} {{QCint|exit |km=79.6 |exit=124 |road=Chemin Saint-Gregoire |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=83.7 |exit=128 |road=Route Beaulieu |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=85.9 |exit=130 |road=Rue du Parc-des-Chutes – [[Chutes de la Chaudière]] |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=86.2 |km2=87.7 |exit=131 |road={{jct|province=QC|TCH|20|city1=Montreal|location2=[[Quebec Bridge|Pont de Québec]]|location3=[[Lévis, Quebec|Lévis]] Centre-Ville|city4=Rivière-du-Loup}} |notes=Signed as exits 131-E (east) and 131-O (west); A-20 exit 312; access to {{jct|province=QC|R|132|R|175|noshield=yes}} }} {{jctbridge|exit |river=[[St. Lawrence River]] |km=88.4 |km2=89.8 |bridge=[[Pierre Laporte Bridge|Pont Pierre-Laporte]]<hr/>North end of '''Autoroute Robert-Cliche''' • South end of '''Autoroute Henri-IV''' }} {{QCint|exit |division=Québec |dspan=24 |location=Québec |lspan=24 |km=90.2 |exit=132 |road={{jctname|province=QC|Route|136|dir1=east|dab1=Quebec City|name1=Boulevard Champlain}}, Avenue des Hôtels |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |type=incomplete |km=90.6 |exit=133 |road=Chemin Saint-Louis |notes=Northbound exit }} {{QCint|exit |km=90.7 |km2=91.9 |kspan=3 |exit=134 |road={{jct|province=QC|A|540|dir1=north|name1=Autoroute Duplessis|A|40|to2=yes|city1=Montréal|location2=[[Aéroport Jean-Lesage]]|extra=airport}} {{jctname|province=QC|QC|175|dir1=north|name1=Boulevard Laurier|location1=[[La Cité-Limoilou|Québec Centre-Ville]]}} |notes=Sorthbound signed as exits 134-E (east) and 134-O (west); southbound signed with exit 136; A-540 exit 9 }} {{QCint|exit |exit=136 |espan=2 |km=none |road=Boulevard Hochelaga |notes= }} {{QCint |km=none |type=incomplete |road={{jctname|province=QC|QC|175|name1=Boulevard Laurier|dir1=south|location1=[[Pont de Québec]]}}, Chemin Saint-Louis |notes=Southbound exit }} {{QCint|exit |km=92.3 |exit=137 |road=Chemin des Quatre-Bourgeois |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=93.5 |exit=138 |road=Chemin Sainte-Foy, Boulevard du Versant-Nord |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=94.4 |exit=139 |type=concur |road={{jctname|province=QC|A|40|dir1=west|A|440|dab2=Quebec City|dir2=east|name2=Boulevard Charest|city1=Montreal|city2=Aéroport Jean-Lesage|location3=[[La Cité-Limoilou|Quebec Centre-Ville]]|extra=airport}} |notes=South end of A-40 concurrency; signed as exits 139-E (east) and 139-O (west); exit 307 on A-40; exit 12 on A-440 }} {{QCint|exit |km=95.2 |exit=140 |road=Rue Einstein |notes=Southbound shares exit with exit 139-O }} {{QCint|exit |km=96.5 |exit=141 |road={{jctname|province=QC|QC|138|name1=Boulevard Wilfrid-Hamel}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=98.0 |exit=142<hr/>307 |road={{jct|province=QC|A|573|dir1=north|name1=Autoroute Henri-IV|city1=Shannon}} |notes='''Autoroute Henri-IV''' follows A-573; A-40 / A-73 become '''Autoroute Félix Leclerc'''; signed as exit 142 (northbound) and exit 307 (southbound); exit numbers follow A-40 }} {{QCint|exit |km=98.4 |exit=308 |road=Boulevard Masson, Boulevard de l'Ormiere, Rue Armand-Viau |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=99.6 |km2=101.3 |exit=310 |road={{jct|state=QC|A|740|name1=Autoroute Robert-Bourassa}}, Boulevard Saint-Jacques |notes=A-740 exit 9 }} {{QCint|exit |km=102.1 |exit=312 |road={{jctname|province=QC|Route|358|name1=Boulevard Pierre-Bertrand}} |notes=Signed as exits 312-S (south) and 312-N (north) }} {{QCint|exit |km=103.4 |exit=313<hr/>148 |type=concur |road={{jct|province=QC|A|40|dir1=east|QC|138|to2=yes|name1=Autoroute Félix-Leclerc|city1=Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre}}<hr/>{{jct|province=QC|A|973|dir1=south|Route|175|dir2=south|name2=Autoroute Laurentienne|location1=[[La Cité-Limoilou|Quebec Centre-Ville]]}} |notes=North end of A-40 concurrency; south end of R-175 concurrency; northbound signed as exits 313-S (south) and 313-N (north); southbound signed as exits 148-O (west) and 148-E (east); becomes '''Autoroute Laurentienne'''; A-73 exit numbers resume, distance markers follow R-175 }} {{QCint|exit |km=104.7 |exit=149 |road=Boulevard de l'Atrium, Boulevard Lebourgneuf |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=105.7 |exit=150 |road={{jctname|province=QC|Route|369|name1=Boulevard Louis-XIV}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=107.2 |exit=151 |road=Boulevard Jean-Talon |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=110.0 |exit=154 |road=Rue de la Faune, Wendake |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=111.0 |exit=155 |road=Rue Georges-Muir |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=111.9 |exit=156 |type=incomplete |road=Rue Bernier |notes=Northbound exit and entrance }} {{QCint|exit |type=incomplete |km=112.7 |exit=157 |road=Boulevard du Lac – [[Lac-Beauport]] |notes=Northbound entrance via exit 156 }} {{QCint|exit |km=114.1 |exit=158 |type=incomplete |road=Rue Jacques-Bédard |notes=Southbound exit is via exit 159 }} {{QCint|exit |type=incomplete |km=114.4 |exit=159 |road=Boulevard Talbot |notes=No northbound entrance }} {{QCint|exit |county=La Jacques-Cartier |cspan=2 |location=Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury |lspan=2 |km=122.4 |kspan=2 |exit=167 |road={{jct|province=QC|Route|371|dir1=south|city1=Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury|city2=Lac-Delage}} |notes= }} {{QCint|exit |km=none |exit=– |type=concur |road={{jct|state=QC|QC|175|dir1=north|city1=Saguenay}} |notes=A-73 northern terminus; north end R-175 concurrency; R-175 continues north }}  {{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}{{notelist-lr}}

==See also== * [[Royal eponyms in Canada]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Attached KML|display=inline,title}} {{commons category}} * [http://webfil_92.tripod.com/autoroutes_en/id17.html A-73 at Quebec Autoroutes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516214134/http://webfil_92.tripod.com/autoroutes_en/id17.html |date=2006-05-16 }} * [http://sites.google.com/site/autoroute73/highway A-73 extension unofficial website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219001544/http://sites.google.com/site/autoroute73/highway |date=2011-02-19 }} * [http://www.inforoutiere.qc.ca/fr/carte_routiere/index.asp Transports Quebec Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517091109/http://www.inforoutiere.qc.ca/fr/carte_routiere/index.asp |date=2008-05-17 }} {{in lang|fr}} * [http://www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2008/20080903beauce-eng.html Building Canada infrastructure plan for A-73] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522191656/http://www.buildingcanada-chantierscanada.gc.ca/media/news-nouvelles/2008/20080903beauce-eng.html |date=2011-05-22 }} {{Quebec Autoroutes}}

[[Category:Quebec Autoroutes|73]] [[Category:Streets in Quebec City]]