The1.8 km-long Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel in Montreal is the only underwater tunnel in Quebec. Opened in 1967, the tunnel connects the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River to the Island of Montreal by the A-25 highway and has an annual average daily traffic (AADT) of 133,000 vehicles. The tunnel consists of seven prefabricated caissons, built in dry dock, then hauled, immersed and assembled in a trench dug in the bed of the river. The tunnel provides three lanes of traffic in each direction, divided into two main tubes. There is also a central service tunnel which provides an evacuation route in case of fire or other emergencies.

The tiles in 2013-2014 were removed because they were falling. It was a protective measure ensuring the durability of the structure until major revamp work  planned for 2018, when the new Champlain Bridge is complete. However, the unprotected walls have started to degrade, and the government has decided to invest C$1M-C$5M in damage control and rustproofing the walls of the tunnel. The Quebec government is now accepting bids from companies and work is expected to kick off in the spring. Work will be done at night, and should be completed by the end of summer. Visit http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca. 11/15.