St-Jacques exit closure causes headaches

Another road closure near the MUHC Superhospital site has left some local business owners seeing red.

The city of Montreal will shut down the St-Jacques Street exit off the Ville-Marie Expressway westbound for  the next five months, starting February 1.

The city says it has to close the exit in order to install water main pipes and sewers at the corner of St-Jacques Street and Decarie Boulevard.

Only one traffic lane will be available in each direction at the intersection.

The closure spells disaster for Car Care Alborz owner Naser Omar.

"They close the street, and we have no access for people to come here," he said. "I get two customers a day."

The city has already closed Decarie Boulevard between St-Jacques Street and De Maisonneuve Boulevard, creating major disruptions in Notre-Dame-de-Grâce.

Many people in the area have complained they weren't informed properly about the long-term closures and detours.

"We should have had public consultations on this," says city councillor Peter McQueen, who would like to see some kind of compensation for local businesses.