The Bonaventure Expressway will be reconfigured as a boulevard with a green corridor

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MONTREAL, December 19 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Honorable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport and Lieutenant of Quebec, and Ms. Sandra Martel, CEO of Les Ponts Jacques Cartier et Champlain Incorporée (PJCCI), accompanied by the Mayor of Montreal, Ms. Valérie Plante, announced today the reconfiguration of the Bonaventure Expressway into a boulevard starting in 2025. The traffic lanes of the new boulevard will be moved away from the shore to create a green corridor along the St. Lawrence River, which includes two lanes dedicated to active mobility. . The reconfiguration aims to respond to changing uses, particularly in terms of traffic flow, goods transport and active mobility, in addition to significantly improving the community’s living environment. The overall budget for the Bonaventure project is $282 million.

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Built in 1966, the non-elevated lanes of the federal section of the Bonaventure Expressway are at the end of their useful life and must be reconstructed. This project aims to maintain three-lane capacity in both directions with a 2+1 configuration and dynamic management of the third lane. With 20 million trips per year, this essential freight transport corridor to the Port of Montreal will also better meet the needs of the community by promoting efficient and safe mobility for all users with a vision of sustainable development.

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“Investing in our infrastructure does not mean investing in concrete, it means investing in the well-being of Canadians. Like Montrealers who, thanks to the reconfiguration of the Bonaventure Expressway, will have access to another green space where they can exercise, get together and admire the St. Lawrence River. We continue to meet the expectations of Quebecers through investments that will make a real difference in their daily lives,” declared the Honorable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport and Lieutenant of Quebec.

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“This flagship project will finally reconnect the metropolis to the St. Lawrence River! Transform a highway to bring it into the 21^st century is a major project that does not come up often and we took advantage of it to ensure the safety of travel for all users. This new gateway to the city will directly contribute to the attractiveness of Montreal and the quality of life of area residents for generations to come. This is the result of a great collaboration with different partners, with whom the City of Montreal was able to fully share its expertise and its daring,” explained Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal.

“We are delighted with this announcement which crowns many years of work. The Bonaventure project is part of our mission which emphasizes user mobility, security and the longevity of infrastructure, in a sustainable development approach. This includes the addition of active mobility paths, as will be done on the new boulevard, which will have the capacity to meet current peak needs and the flexibility to meet future needs in the coming decades,” said Sandra Martel, Executive Director of JCCBI.

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Green corridor and 2.5 km active mobility route
The traffic lanes of the new boulevard will be moved away from the shore and will thus overlap Carrie-Derick Street which will be eliminated, thus reducing the road footprint and heat islands by 40%. In addition, a space along the river will be freed where a green corridor will be built with two routes dedicated to active mobility. A pedestrian promenade of nearly 2.5 km and a multi-use path will join the existing trails in the area.

Greening plans
The area will also be greened by planting 650 trees, 18,000 shrubs and 13,000 perennial plants and creating landscaping elements that will protect biodiversity and reduce heat islands. The public will have closer access to the river and the entire corridor between the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge and the Victoria Bridge will be beautified and vegetated.

Better protect the St. Lawrence River
JCCBI will continue to respond to the environmental challenges of the sector. The Company plans in particular to include measures to protect biodiversity and soil management, in addition to maintaining or even improving its Solution Bonaventure project, which has been protecting the St. Lawrence since 2016 by containing and treating contaminated groundwater.

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Impacts on mobility
The current speed of 70 km/h will be reduced to 50 km/h and traffic lights will be added, all helping to ensure the safe movement of people between the Pointe-Sainte-Charles industrial park and the green corridor. Essentially, the work will take place from 2025 to 2029 and, during this period, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions.

To find out more about the Bonaventure project, here are the multimedia links:

About JCCBI
Manager of major infrastructure, Les Ponts Jacques Cartier et Champlain Incorporée is a state-owned company created in 1978 which is responsible for the Jacques Cartier bridge, the original Champlain bridge (currently under deconstruction), the Estacade, the bypass bridge of Nuns’ Island, the federal sections of the Bonaventure highway and the Honoré Mercier bridge as well as the Melocheville tunnel. The Company manages, maintains and repairs these important structures in Greater Montreal to ensure the safe passage of thousands of users every day. It also ensures that these critical structures remain safe, fully functional and aesthetically pleasing, today and in the future.

For more information

Office of Minister Rodriguez
Laura Scaffidi, press officer
Cell phone: 873 354-3998
E-mail: laura.scaffidi@tc.gc.ca

The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated
Nathalie Lessard, director of communications
Telephone: 450 651-8771
Email: Contact us Form https://jacquescartierchamplain.ca/fr/contactez-nous/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available on https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/954392e6-80c3-4431-af9e-9efb7f56226d

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