The decision to demolish and rebuild the Turcot Interchange was boldly taken a few years ago by the provincial Liberals who preferred it over the cheaper option of simply repairing what was there.
At the time, the rebuilding option was hyped as a method of rejuvenating neighbourhoods and turning the structures into something more humane.
We have been asked to believe that this is true but the fact is that the highways will simply be nearer to the ground, closer to our faces.
The fact is, however, that there will be a lot of negative elements in this rebuild. Not only will be the cars be lower and more visible, but they will also be at the foot of the St. James cliff, making an ugly eyesore to those in lower NDG.
Additionally the entrance ramp to the 20 east will be removed, which will be a massive loss for local transportation. Another entrance is supposedly slated to be built in future years somewhere down near Pullman but that's years, and kilometers away.
Then there's the crazy idea of demolishing and rebuilding the viaduct over Decarie between Addington and Prud'homme just to lower it by one metre.
The government could simply start repairing what is there.
In the context of the mad overspending on construction and the PQ's generous support of social programs, the silly, harmful, unnecessary and extravagant rebuild is unjustifiable.
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| Just maintain it and learn to love it |
We have been asked to believe that this is true but the fact is that the highways will simply be nearer to the ground, closer to our faces.
The fact is, however, that there will be a lot of negative elements in this rebuild. Not only will be the cars be lower and more visible, but they will also be at the foot of the St. James cliff, making an ugly eyesore to those in lower NDG.
Additionally the entrance ramp to the 20 east will be removed, which will be a massive loss for local transportation. Another entrance is supposedly slated to be built in future years somewhere down near Pullman but that's years, and kilometers away.
Then there's the crazy idea of demolishing and rebuilding the viaduct over Decarie between Addington and Prud'homme just to lower it by one metre.
The government could simply start repairing what is there.
In the context of the mad overspending on construction and the PQ's generous support of social programs, the silly, harmful, unnecessary and extravagant rebuild is unjustifiable.
While there are many possible scenarios for rebuilding the Turcot Interchange, the reality is that it would take billions, not millions, to do a total rebuild that would satisfy everyone; something along the lines of the Boston "Big Dig". I don't think any Canadian city could ever afford that.
ReplyDeleteGiven the passage of time, elections, recessions, "priorities", etc., whatever plan we actually end up with will be less-satisfactory than what we deserve.
And why do I get the feeling that the long-touted tramway plan is now dead in the water? After all, it was Mayor Tremblay's "baby".
As far as cutting down the vehicular traffic is concerned, the plan to run a tram from the south shore along the ice bridge and then along the Old Port is much more reasonable than digging up Cote des Neiges to install tracks and overhead wires. More street closures are not what this city needs.
Besides, those long, "bendy busses" on route 165 seem to be quite successful, and the plan to convert to all-electric busses within the next few years would make tramlines redundant in any case.
Now that the 30 will be open in a few weeks, I'm surprised you don't support demolishing it and just making it a normal intersection; something like at Pine-Park.
ReplyDeleteBecause spewing gasses and dust up in the air is better than closer to the ground?
ReplyDeleteBuild this damn thing already what is taking so freaking long.
In about 3 weeks, highway 30 will be completed, allowing trucks to completely go around Montréal.
ReplyDeleteThat will significantly ease the traffic over Spaghetti-Junction*, so it's absolutely not necessary to rebuild it to handle more traffic.
* That's how CNR train crews call it.
I read in the past that the structure was never mantained over the years since it was built 40 years ago. Or very poorly maintained. I had the impression that it is falling apart and why they will bring it down to the ground. Gads, the pollution right around there!!!
ReplyDeleteBack in 1951, the Royal Automobile Club (forerunner to today's CAA), actually took out a full page newspaper ad, including photos and futuristic projections, promoting multiple, grid-like, cross-city elevated highways which, if adopted, would have turned our city into a truly horrific and uninhabitable place.
ReplyDeleteSee: Montreal Gazette, November 10, 1951, page 17.
Shake your head in disbelief and be glad such a nightmare-scenario never became a reality!