Wearth Group | April 2025 | Bourg de Pabos
Wearth Group | in actions
Poralu Marine rises to the challenge of building an eco-friendly footbridge in a sensitive environment
Located in the historic bay of Bourg de Pabos, in the Gaspé Peninsula in Quebec, Canada, a mysterious island with thousands of years of indigenous and colonial history was inaccessible to the general public.
That’s no longer the case thanks to an innovative, long-lasting footbridge designed by Poralu Marine. The 540-meter floating structure is a true technical achievement that will allow visitors to access this remarkable site while meeting a great many environmental and archaeological challenges.
A protected site brimming with history
Before even considering the environmental challenges, Poralu Marine had to meet very strict archaeological criteria.
The island is located in a bay where archaeological discoveries have revealed occupation by prehistoric indigenous peoples, followed by French and English presence. All work required rigorous supervision to protect this exceptional heritage.
A project supported by our company PORALU MARINE
A complex natural environment
The bay where the footbridge is installed has a number of highly unique geographical features— it has large tidal ranges and is regularly exposed to strong currents and extreme weather events. The bay also freezes each winter, requiring some sections of the footbridge to be removed every year.
What’s more, the shores of the bay are formed of a particularly fragile sandy substrate, meaning that no heavy machinery could be used. To overcome this, Poralu Marine turned to an ingenious solution: a SkyTrak—a light vehicle capable of carrying components weighing up to 600 kg without damaging the shore.
The team worked without heavy machinery on the first 10 meters of the project, using special equipment to protect the coastline and the shore.
It took a year of preparation to receive approximately twenty different authorizations, including from the Quebec Ministry of the Environment, Transport Canada, the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Ministry of Culture.
Innovative solutions in response to unique limitations
The footbridge designed by Poralu Marine is made using 100% aluminum, a durable material capable of withstanding extreme climates.
Its decking uses recyclable composite materials, with the red-brown color painstakingly chosen to blend into the bay’s natural landscape to meet the site’s visual requirements.
To withstand the significant variations in water level, Poralu Marine developed four floating sections specially designed to absorb the large movements resulting from the tides. This system means that the structure can constantly adapt, allowing users to cross in safety and comfort, even during strong currents or floods.
An iconic project highlighting Poralu Marine’s expertise
The project’s success perfectly illustrates Poralu Marine’s ability to work in sensitive and protected areas, combining technological innovation, environmental protection, and complex regulatory constraints.
The Bourg de Pabos bridge is the first step in an ambitious tourist and educational project scheduled for completion in 2026. Visitors will have access to an innovative multimedia trail that uses augmented reality to immerse them in the site’s many historical eras.
Through this project, Poralu Marine reaffirms its pledge: enabling people to live in harmony within their ecosystems, even in the most challenging contexts.