Laval overpass collapse still haunts families and first responders 20 years later

Two decades after the De la Concorde overpass collapsed in Laval, Quebec, people affected by the tragedy are still calling for a more formal public remembrance. Retired firefighter Guy Archambault, one of the first responders on scene on Sept. 30, 2006, said the memory of the collapse remains vivid and traumatic. Five people were killed and six others were injured when part of the overpass came down on Highway 19, despite earlier warnings about the structure. Local officials and the Laval Historical Society say a plaque has been prepared with support from victims’ families, but they still need permission to install it. The Quebec transport ministry says it understands the families’ grief, but notes that the location is not suitable for a plaque because it is unsafe to stop there. The province now inspects bridges and overpasses more often than it did before the collapse.