Radisson and the Robert-Bourassa Dam

A Northern Village Built For The La Grande Hydroelectric Project, The Gateway To The Robert Bourassa Generating Station And Its Enormous Spillway, With A Visitor Reception And Tours Of The Power Station In Summer. The End Of The James Bay Road For Most Visitors, With Services And An Outpost Feel · Radisson, Quebec

Radisson is a small northern village of about 300 people at kilometre 620 of the James Bay Road, built from 1974 for the first phase of the La Grande hydroelectric project. It is named for the explorer Pierre-Esprit Radisson and serves as the base for workers and visitors at the Robert-Bourassa generating station, also known as LG-2, a few minutes away on the La Grande River. The station sits underground below a vast reservoir, and its spillway, a great stepped chute built to carry flood water, is one of the most striking sights of Quebec engineering. Hydro-Quebec runs a visitor programme in summer with guided tours of the power station and the spillway (confirm dates, booking and photo ID rules). Radisson has a small hotel, a cafe, a store, a fuel stop and an airstrip, and is the end of the road for most travellers. Chisasibi, the Cree town on James Bay, lies about 100 km farther west by side road.

Radisson, a small village of about 300 people at kilometre 620 of the James Bay Road in northern Quebec, near the Robert-Bourassa (LG-2) hydroelectric station on the La Grande River; coordinates approximate, Radisson, Quebec, Canada

Radisson keeps no formal visiting hours because it is a small working village. The hotel desk, the store, the cafe and the fuel stop keep their own hours, often roughly 7 to 7 in summer and shorter in winter - confirm by phone. Hydro-Quebec visitor tours of the Robert-Bourassa station and the spillway usually run roughly late June to early September, by booking and with a photo ID - confirm days, times and meeting place before the long drive. Winter visits to the plant are often not offered, and road and weather shape the day. The James Bay Road is open year-round, but services thin out after dark.

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