Island’s northern tip: work reaches major phase

During last week’s press meeting, Mayor Claude Trudel outlined the progress of the work. He was accompanied by Director Gilles Baril and Engineer Jean Cardin. The Mayor explained that the new road sections will be opened to traffic in phases, in order to give motorists enough time to familiarise themselves with the new routes during non-rush hours. On Saturday morning, September 6, the first new section of the re-developed road network was open to traffic; the second will be opened on September 13.

During the week-end of September 12-15 that several Bell employees will move into their new offices. However, it will take a few weeks more before all 2500 workers settle in their new building. Another 1500 employees are expected to move in a few months later when phase II of the Bell-Canderal building project is ready.

Since September 6, motorists are able to use certain sections of the re-developed road system in the island’s northern tip. The Alexander-Graham-Bell rotary interchange is now open to traffic, as well as the new ramp situated between Clément Bridge and the island’s entry point. Commuters arriving in the island via the Bonaventure highway are therefore able to use the lane passing under the viaduct of highway 15.

The public will begin to notice major changes on Saturday, September 13. The new ramp 10 will be open to traffic and will enable Bell Canada employees to go to their new building without making a detour at Place du Commerce Street. This road segment will connect the main rotary interchange (at the island’s entry point) to the northern tip, which passes under the viaduct of highway 15. Readers will notice that this particular lane will be alongside the lane that will allow commuters to enter the island through the southern side of the island; it goes in the opposite direction. When completed, ramp 10 will be enlarged.

Ramp 21, on the other hand, will allow commuters who are arriving in the island via highway 15 to proceed directly to the northern tip. Ramp 21 is scheduled for completion either in November or December of this year.

To ensure that traffic goes smoothly during the final stages of the re-development work for the entry and exit points of L'Île-des-Soeurs, traffic lights have been installed and should now be operational. These lights will remain in place until the end of the construction work which will last for about 20 months more.

One of these traffic lights will be used exclusively by buses going to the Bell Canada headquarters. This will enable bus drivers to cross traffic that enters the island from the Bonaventure highway. This traffic light will no longer be necessary when “rotary interchange 3” is completed in the western side of the present entry point. This particular phase will constitute one of the final phases of the various re-development work so residents will have to be patient some more with the traffic lights – for almost two years.

Words, diagrams and photos are not sufficient to accurately describe the new road network. Island residents are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the new re-developed roads by taking advantage of the weekend of September 13-14 to make a visit when traffic is not so heavy. In the next few days, residents will be able to reach the new Bell building on foot or on bike by using the new multi-purpose path which starts from the SAX building and passes under highway 15. For the most part, residents are asked to practice caution and prudence owing to the presence of materials and equipment that can potentially be hindrances in some lanes.

To get a good idea of the new road systems currently in place, visit the Borough’s web site by accessing the web site of the City of Montreal at www.ville.montreal.qc.ca. Click on the link Maquette- Entrées et sorties de L'Île-des-Soeurs to view an animated version of the various infrastructure projects.