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The longest autoroute in the province, A-20 (Jean Lesage Autoroute) is not only the primary east-west route through the St. Lawrence Valley, but also (for a great part of its distance) part of the Trans-Canadian Highway. For this review, I will discuss the nearly 300 miles between Montreal and Riviere du Loup.
Between Montreal and Quebec City, A-20 is a rather congested highway. It is in desperate need of a third lane in each direction from the Montreal suburbs east to Levis (just east of A-73). Perhaps the pavement, which has been worn down by the wear-and-tear of heavy traffic and the rough Quebec winters, could be redone in conjunction with the widening. When I first traveled this highway in 1978, I was astounded to find a couple of at-grade railroad crossings! Over the years, the MTQ has removed many of these dangerous crossings.
Between Levis and Riviere du Loup, A-20 traverses much more serene settings. The panoramic views of the St. Lawrence Valley through this area (particularly the distant mountains north of the St. Lawrence River) are not to be missed.
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