Montreal outlines $6B plan to fix roads, revamp infrastructure
City unveils ambitious 3-year infrastructure plan to fix major arteries, improve road quality
The City of Montreal has unveiled its three-year infrastructure plan and says it's putting forth "significant efforts" to improve the city's aging road and water networks.
The city will be investing a total of $6.37 billion over three years. It's an increase of $1.15 billion over last year's plan, but the city says it should have little impact on municipal taxes.
The plan calls for an additional $1 billion investment slated for Montreal's water supply, roads and transportation network.
- Major construction, roadwork unveiled for next 10 years
- Lousy commute downtown for West Islanders to last not months, but years
Mayor Denis Coderre says that the work is vital and people will be better prepared for construction work ahead.
"People understand we need to do this work," said Coderre. "What they don't want is surprises. We are working in a more integrated way."
The announcement comes on the heels of a recent study by the city, which found that 22 per cent of sewers, 14 per cent of the water system and 45 per cent of roads do not meet an acceptable level of service.
Road and water investments
A little more than 60 per cent of the investment plan is slated for road or water infrastructure.
Some of investments include:
- $351.9 million for the repair and maintenance of major arteries.
- $210 million for the of local roads in addition to repair work carried out by boroughs.
- $415.4 million for a road levelling and surfacing program.
The city has also set aside money for Montreal's waterworks system with plans to renovate the water supply and sewer network.
Opposition calls for long-term investments
Luc Ferrandez, Projet Montréal's interim leader, said at a news conference that much of the infrastructure investment outlined by the plan is short-sighted.
"We would have reinvested in the structure, not just the asphalt," said Ferrandez. "In three years most of these streets will be as destroyed as they are right now."
Ferrandez said that the money would be better spent securing dangerous intersections which have had fatal incidents involving pedestrians and cyclists.
Other investment projects
The three-year plan also sets out a number of priority projects for the city.
They include:
- $34.7 million for the creation of a new Montreal-operated animal control centre.
- $24.5 million for the extension of Cavendish Boulevard.
- $17.9 million to renovate Montreal's baseball parks.
- $12.4 million to develop the "River-to-Mountain" urban walkway for the city's 375th birthday.