MONTREAL - Just when Montrealers thought their construction nightmare couldn't get any worse, Transport Quebec has announced that yet more traffic cones are set to dot local streets this weekend.
Repairs on the decaying Turcot Interchange will shut down parts of the Ville Marie and Décarie expressways and the Trans-Canada Highway starting Friday night, including a stretch expected to be closed for the next three weeks.
The ramp connecting westbound Highway 720 to southbound Highway 15 will probably be out of service until Aug. 8, Transport Quebec says.
These latest closings arrive on the heels of Tuesday's surprise announcement of roadwork on the Ville Marie Tunnel. The snap announcement surprised even the city's executive committee and the provincial government's new road construction task force.
"The list of works was given to the committee but there were no dates," explained Martine Painchaud, a press aide for members of Montreal's executive committee.
"The Quebec Transport Deparement recognized that improvements were necessary and has vowed to better communicate."
This time, though, Transport Quebec says all parties were properly briefed.
"Wednesday, the committee had a meeting and the project was presented and approved," said Réal Grégoire, a spokesperson for Transport Quebec.
"What we want from now on is better communication between all the organizations."
Caroline Larose, another Transport Quebec spokesperson, said Tuesday that better notice couldn't be given for the Ville Marie Tunnel repairs because the agency finds out only at the last minute when contractors are ready to begin construction. But her colleague, Grégoire, says that's not true.
"While last-minute hitches can sometimes occur, contractors don't decide when they'll start work. We do," Grégoire said. "With 53 work sites on the island, including the Turcot Interchange, if the contractors were the ones deciding when they start working, it would be impossible to manage."
As gridlock continues to clog the city and orange signs have motorists seeing red, why close off yet another major road? Grégoire insists this is the perfect time.
"In summer, there's less traffic and during the construction holiday, there's even less," he said, noting that road workers are not on vacation during this period. Aside from the ramp linking westbound Ville Marie to southbound Highway 15, Transport Quebec plans to shut down three more arteries this weekend to perform maintenance work on the Turcot Interchange.
The ramp connecting northbound Décarie to westbound Highway 20 will be closed at night on Friday and Saturday. The ramp bridging eastbound Highway 20 and southbound Décarie will be shut to motorists Friday night, and the ramp connecting northbound Décarie to eastbound Ville Marie will be closed off Saturday night.
For detailed information on detours and roadworks, Transport Quebec asks motorists to visit quebec511.gouv.qc.ca
klalancette@montrealgazette.com
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