Boulevard des Allumettières (formerly called Boulevard Saint-Laurent) is a major 13.7 km arterial road in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, that connects Aylmer and Hull sectors of the city running from Eardley Road to the Alexandra Bridge towards Ottawa. It is the most recent east-west arterial connection from the West to the downtown core and construction of the entire length was completed during the fall of 2007. Early years This road was built in the late 1990s to serve as a by-pass of the Aylmer sector as well as a quicker route for Route 148 which is the number assigned for this route. While it contains at-grade intersections, it may be upgraded to Autoroute 50. The western end of the road is at the intersection of the former section of Highway/Route 148 (Chemin Eardley). Initially, in the 1970s, it was part of a larger route planned to connect Aylmer to downtown Hull roughly along the same corridor and through the current Saint-Laurent Boulevard. Several blocks of late-19th century to mid-20th century homes were expropriated to make for the project, but numerous issues delayed the project for several years although portions of the planned road were built including the initial portion of Saint-Laurent between near Saint-Redempteur Boulevard and the Alexandra Bridge. Residents in the Wrightville and Île de Hull areas had criticized the move in the 1970s as the project and expropriations were made without public consultations Extension project This road has been extended east of (Boulevard Saint-Raymond) to connect with the extended portion of Boulevard Saint-Laurent east of Lac des Fées parkway. The eastern segment which was named Saint-Laurent was renamed des Allumettières as the continuation of the same stretch of road. Residents in the Aylmer sector as well as those in the growing Plateau de la Capitale and Manoir des Trembles neighborhoods of the Hull sector and those from Pontiac can use this route as a more direct route to the downtown sections of Hull and Ottawa. The new boulevard opened on 3 December 2007 after decades of debate on whether this project would be completed, while bulldozing in the area near Boulevard Saint-Joseph was done many years ago. It passes through Gatineau Park despite concerns from environmentalists, but measures were taken to reduce the impact on the environment including the construction of a temporary bridge. The cost of the bridge totaled just under $100 million and was considered the most