Chateau-Richer, like so many small French-Canadian towns that front the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, straddles time. The old village is built on the narrow strip of flat land that marks the current coastline but much of the surrounding homes and farmland sits on the broad flatlands above the palisades that marked the much higher sea levels of the past. In Chateau-Richer (population about 4,000) this topographic situation presented a peculiar safety problem.

Most of the population and all the industry is situated above the palisade but the village with its church, community center and other civic assets along with the only road access to the outside world are at the bottom. Cote de la Chapelle, the steep road that connects the upper and lower parts of town is narrow, curved and cut sharply into the side of the palisade. With no room for sidewalks the local population was playing Russian roulette every time they walked up our down that road, to say nothing of the added risk of slippery winter conditions.

A very close call, that could have had easily been a tragedy and the continued growth in heavy truck traffic from a nearby quarry finally motivated the town into action. Given the small population and tight density of historic homes that surrounded each end of the road meant a major change to the road layout wasn’t an option. The only remaining solution was a pedestrian bypass, a raised walkway and staircase. With no such experience in this kind of construction the town approached the DOT, who advice made clear that hot-dip galvanizing was a must to insure minimal initial cost and maintenance while also maximizing service life.

Given the constant use of de-icing chemicals and anti-slip abrasives for many months per year the repeatedly proven durability of hot-dip galvanized steel made for a standout value argument. In careful consultations between the specifiers, the fabricators and the galvanizer the structure was designed to take best advantage of the very large local galvanizing baths, minimizing installation and assembly cost significantly while maximizing esthetic quality.

Put it all together and the amazing economic equation of hot-dip galvanizing in such applications is even greater. The easily and quickly erected structure is now complete. Already providing pedestrians a safe and convenient route up and down the palisade while also relieving motorists of the anxiety of what was obviously a very dangerous interaction every time they saw a pedestrian on Cote de la Chapelle.