Citizens renew push for pedestrian bridge connecting NDG to Southwest borough

Citizens and politicians are renewing calls for Transports Québec to follow through on a 2010 promise to build a pedestrian and cycling bridge connecting the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Southwest boroughs.

The connecting bridge was part of the original Turcot Interchange plan, but was scrapped not long into the process because it was deemed too expensive, according to the Ministry.

• Bike path still not part of Turcot Interchange plans

More than a hundred cyclists and activists rallied along the Lachine Canal Sunday, demanding that the Quebec government reinstate the plan for the bridge, also known as the Dalle-Parc.

The project would facilitate travel between the canal and the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce neighbourhood via the St-Jacques escarpment, near the southern end of Cavendish Boulevard.

'We feel that we've been duped'

Craig Sauvé, city councillor for the Southwest, joined in urging the government to rethink axing the Dalle-Parc.

He said the Turcot plans were strongly opposed by local residents early on because of concerns over traffic and pollution, and the bike path was a bare minimum concession for cyclists and pedestrians.

"We wanted a better project — something that would serve the community better. Unfortunately, the Quebec government didn't give us that, but they gave us one thing that they promised, and that was this overpass," Sauvé said. "We feel that we've been duped."

Sauvé also called the financial reasoning to scrap the bridge into question. Proponents of the bike path argue that it would have cost about $40 million — roughly one per cent of the total Turcot project costs.

"We're hoping the government takes action," said Sauvé.

Building with cyclists in mind

Before the rally, demonstrators travelled along the existing bike route between NDG and the Southwest.

Félix Gravel, assistant director of the Regional Environmental Council of Montreal, said that Transports Québec needs to keep all road-users in mind, not just drivers.

The council has started an online petition to be delivered to Premier Philippe Couillard, which has already attracted over 10,000 signatures.

Irwin Rapoport, from NDG, told CBC he'd consider cycling more often if the connecting bridge was built.

"I use the bike path at times to get to the Lachine Canal and to the Southwest," Rapoport said. "It's a good link for NDG residents, but having a bridge across the Turcot yards would be even better."

A spokesperson for Transport Quebec said on Sunday that a connecting bridge may still be possible, but such plans would only be set in motion after completion of the Turcot interchange between 2020-2022.