Turcot Interchange: still waiting for mitigation measures to be implemented

MONTREAL, March 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Although work on the Turcot Interchange has begun - closure of the Saint-Jacques ramp and the ramps from Autoroute 15 to the 720 - the mitigation plan announced by the Quebec government has yet to be implemented. Projet Montréal is asking the Quebec government to accelerate the implementation of various projects already announced to reduce traffic congestion in Montreal and ensure the safety of local streets.

The plan announced by the Quebec Transport Ministry, in March 2013, included six projects: the construction of a temporary Lachine-Victoria station in Lachine; increased service on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line starting in 2013; the establishment of 'park and ride' parking at Lachine station; the development of land near the current downtown terminal to serve as a waiting area for buses; expansion of 'park and ride' facilities targeted at the South Shore and a study of fare incentives.

"To this day, only the increased service on the Vaudreuil-Hudson line has been implemented. What about the five other projects? The completion of these projects should be accelerated to avoid an increase in through-traffic in adjacent residential neighbourhoods. Our first priority is to minimize inconveniences for our citizens throughout the reconstruction of the Turcot Interchange," said Craig Sauvé, city councillor for Saint-Henri-Petite-Bourgogne-Pointe-Saint-Charles and transport critic for the official opposition. "Citizens who use the Turcot on a daily basis will only have access to effective alternatives if the mitigation plan is swiftly implemented."

According to the Quebec Transport Ministry, the closure of ramps from the Autoroute 15 north to the Autoroute 720 east as well as from Autoroute 15 north to 20 west will force drivers to use Côte-Saint-Luc Road and Décarie Boulevard. "The extended closure of these ramps runs the risk of significantly increasing traffic on the streets of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and complicating the movements of residents by bicycle, bus or automobile," added Peter McQueen, city councillor for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce. "What measures in the government's mitigation plan will limit these problems, and when will they be implemented?"

SOURCE: Ville de Montréal - Opposition officielle à l'Hôtel de Ville de Montréal

Catherine Maurice
Attachée de presse de l'opposition officielle
514 872-3153 / 514 601-5542
[email protected]