As has been reported in recent weeks, the Turcot interchange - where the major city arteries intersect - is set to come down in the very near future. After enduring years of delays caused by unplanned repairs to keep concrete slabs from flattening passing motorists, we can look forward to delays that will be much, much worse.
In order to bring down the behemoth, temporary detours will have to be constructed and residents of adjoining boroughs such as NDG, Westmount and St. Henri will have to endure years of countless schedule challenged drivers, looking for alternate routes through city streets. Dangerous times loom for the children of the afflicted neighborhoods, and a concentrated police presence will be required to keep the beasts at bay.
The work was supposed to have begun this month, but wrangling over numerous issues like detour routing and the role of public transportation have hamstrung the process. It's now very likely that the snows will have receded and we're back in our second season - construction - before the first call of timber is hollered as the mighty spaghetti interchange starts to come down.
As much as I will appreciate a better designed thoroughfare - why in hell can't I get off the 20 east onto 15 north and exit at Sherbrooke??? - I am still dreading any trek that takes me downtown. And don't even get me started on how all this is going to happen before corruption allegations in the construction industry actually get investigated. Otherwise, like the Olympic Stadium, we'll pay for enough concrete to build three new expressways.
Comments
Hello Mike,
You seem to be new to this discussion and I encourage you to explore some of the excellent websites that have been built to help people understand the issues around the Turcot debate. One place to begin is www.turcot.ca, but I also encourage you to read the BAPE report and some of the better briefs that were submitting during those hearing last June. You will find links to these at turcot.ca. You could also read the recent book, Montréal at the Crossroads, to get deeper appreciation of what's at stake. The BANQ has a couple of copies.
The fundamental big picture question at the heart of this debate is: what role for the automobile in the cities of the 21st century? It is a debate that all cities are having, as their 50s and 60s era infrastructure is now in need of renewal. Can we afford to continue this model? The economic, health and environmental costs are enormous.
It is a timely debate, and one crucial for the future of Montreal. Bonne exploration!
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