Measures set to ease traffic congestion during Mercier Bridge closings

MONTREAL - Montreal’s summer traffic woes just got a lot worse.

But authorities are taking measures to mitigate congestion caused by the sudden partial closing of the Mercier Bridge.

Lane directions are being changed and more South Shore commuter trains and buses are on the way. They’re also considering opening to car traffic the ice bridge next to the Champlain Bridge.

Here are the measures:

Mercier lane changes

The part of the bridge that normally takes motorists to Montreal remains open, but lanes on it will switch directions at various points:

- From midnight to noon, both its lanes will be used for Montreal-bound traffic only.

- From noon to midnight, both its lanes will be used for traffic to the South Shore.

- On weekends, it will be used as a two-way road, one lane in each direction.

There will be short periods during configuration changes when the entire span will be closed.

Commuter trains

The Agence métropolitaine de transport will add six weekday departures on its weekday-only Candiac commuter train line as of Thursday morning, thanks to the cooperation of Canadian Pacific, which owns the tracks and bridge used by the line.

New departures from Candiac will leave at 6:35 a.m., 8:25 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. From Lucien L’Allier station, new departures will leave at 9:35 a.m., 3:55 p.m. and 5:55 p.m.

These are in addition to the 12 daily weekday trains on the Candiac line.

The AMT is also adding a total of 380 additional parking spots at its Candiac, St. Constant and Ste. Catherine train stations.

Buses

The AMT said regional transit authorities on the South Shore will add buses to and from Montreal. Details have not been worked out yet.


Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Measures+ease+traffic+congestion+during+Mercier+Bridge+closings/4952466/story.html#ixzz1PXRgyRhO