Aylmer Road: 175th anniversary of its macadamization in 2025, 4 of 4
Richard M. Bégin
The final blow would come from the automobile. The story begins in mid-May 1914, when a man named A.A. McKay, a driver for W.D. Morris, refused to pay the toll on the recommendation of the head of the Ottawa Valley Motor Association, then backed up and knocked down the Aylmer barrier. This was followed by a lawsuit by the Bytown and Aylmer Co. against A.A. McKay and, at the same time, an injunction request by the Ottawa Valley Motor Association. On March 1, 1915, the Court of Appeal ruled that the provisions of the law in force (dating back to 1849!) did not allow owners of toll roads to collect tolls from vehicles that were not drawn by horses or other pack animals.
The Bytown & Aylmer Union Turnpike Road Co. was not discouraged and, on May 19, obtained from the Lieutenant Governor in Council an amendment to the 1849 law to include motor vehicles and charge them 25 cents per vehicle (approximately $6.60 in 2025).
However, as can be seen from the 1901-1902 financial statements, the company's operations were already less profitable: revenues of $3,470 in 1901-1902 ($130,000 in 2025 dollars), but expenses of $4,400 ($164,000 in 2025).
On September 16, 1920, the Quebec government purchased the Aylmer Road between Hull and Aylmer, which later became Provincial Route 148 until the construction of Allumettières Boulevard. Today, it is a municipal road under the jurisdiction of the City of Gatineau.
On the Aylmer side, on December 6, 1920, the Council passed a resolution to take over the remaining section of the road between Mountain (Frank-Robinson) St. and the city limits (Belmont), once the Quebec government had purchased this section of Aylmer Road from the Bytown & Aylmer Union Turnpike Road Co. and repaired it and restored it to very good condition.
The company was finally dissolved on March 23, 1921.
As the attached photos show, Aylmer Road retained its heritage and rural character until recently, except for the Hull section of the road, which was renamed Alexandre-Taché Boulevard. Unfortunately, the 2002 municipal merger and the urban sprawl that followed have meant that this once magnificent and peaceful road between the Champlain Bridge and Belmont Street, a major historic road for the development of the Outaouais region, has already lost much of its beauty, as well as its heritage and green character.
