Feds to pay $2M to clear snow from Jacques Cartier Bridge bike path, but keep it closed

Crews will spend all winter testing out ways to clear snow and ice from the Jacques Cartier Bridge bike path — a project that will cost almost $2 million — but the path won't be open for cyclists to use.

The path closes every year at the first sign of wintry weather, to the dismay of many cyclists who use it to travel between Montreal and the South Shore.

Julie Paquet, spokesperson for the bridge corporation, said while experienced cyclists can handle the conditions, they want to make sure it's safe for everyone before opening the path in the winter. 

In an interview on Radio-Canada's Gravel le Matin, Paquet said there will also be construction work happening on the walkway and bike path over the winter, exacerbating those safety concerns.

What's the money for?

The bridge corporation is taking the winter to test different methods to remove snow and ice, then observe and document how well they work.

Part of the challenge of keeping the bridge open is that traditional snow-removal techniques can't be used because of the width of the sidewalk, the grade of the bridge, a higher risk of black ice due to the proximity to water, as well as the presence of highways and homes on the land under the bridge, so the snow can't just be dumped over the side.

The bike path is also part of the bridge's deck, and there's no protective membrane over it to protect it from de-icing salts.

"It's definitely a solution that is maybe a little more expensive at the beginning, but if it will make maintenance simpler.… We are not ruling anything out."

Excuses and no action, says cyclist group

Montreal Bike Coalition spokesperson Dan Lambert said he finds the situation "ridiculous."

He plans to ask the bridge corporation for a breakdown of the costs for their tests, since the figure seems high to him.

He said the bridge corporation's reasons for keeping the bike path closed amount to excuses — the same ones the group has been hearing for years without any concrete steps to address their concerns.

Lambert said that many cyclists use the path in the winter despite its closure and said most days, the pavement is clear. 

"We understand they want to conduct tests, and that they can only do when snow falls.... Why don't they just clean off the snow and then reopen the bicycle path? It just doesn't make any sense," he said.

As for the maintenance work, he said he doesn't believe it should take all winter, pointing out that when roadwork has to be done on the bridge, they make an effort to get it done in a night or over a weekend.

He said his biggest concern is that the corporation will spend this winter doing tests, then turn around and say they were inconclusive.

"The bottom line, in our estimation, is that cyclists are simply not a priority," he said.