Montreal making changes to traffic control during Presidents Cup on Île-Bizard
City spokesperson says there was clearly 'room to improve' after event's first few days
With tens of thousands of people driving in and out of Île-Bizard every day for a major pro golf event, the City of Montreal says new measures will make traffic in the area more fluid and alleviate residents' frustrations.
The Presidents Cup, which kicked off on Tuesday and will continue until Sunday, is taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club on Île-Bizard in northwestern Montreal.
With the Jacques-Bizard Bridge being the only way on and off the small island, the city put in place a set of traffic rules for the duration of the sporting event. That includes vignettes that allow drivers to access the island and having police officers triage drivers on Pierrefonds Boulevard nearby to make sure they have vignettes before letting them head toward the bridge.
The event began with the three-lane bridge having one of those lanes reserved for drivers entering the island, another lane for drivers leaving it and a third lane in the middle for charter buses and emergencies.
On Wednesday, the city unveiled the following traffic measures:
- When possible, the third lane for charter buses and emergencies will be used as a second lane in the busiest direction, depending on the time of day.
- School buses will also be allowed to use the centre lane.
- The triage system on Pierrefonds Boulevard will be suspended once the golf event's activities have wrapped up for the day.
The city also announced a fourth measure, which allows drivers to enter the triage system using both eastbound and westbound lanes on Pierrefonds Boulevard during the afternoon rush hour. Prior to today, drivers had to use Hamel Street to reach eastbound lanes to be triaged.
During a news conference on Thursday afternoon, City of Montreal spokesperson Philippe Sabourin said these new processes are all subject to operational needs and can be suspended depending on the situation.
Île-Bizard residents have complained about the Presidents Cup, scoffing at the need to have a vignette in order to go home and the amount of time they've wasted in traffic. On some days, some residents have reported being stuck on the bridge for several hours.
Sabourin said the city analyzed the situation and realized that it was obvious there was "room to improve."
He also reiterated that delivery trucks do not need vignettes to enter Île-Bizard and said teams directing traffic have been reminded of that to avoid any confusion moving forward.
Doug Hurley, the borough mayor for Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève, said the new measures are a step in the right direction, but should have been implemented from the beginning.
He said it took him 40 minutes earlier this week to leave Île-Bizard, even though he lives 400 metres from the bridge.
He added that residents have been reaching out constantly to share "horror stories" about how the traffic situation has unfolded.
"This thing about vignettes: I've never seen something so useless. It makes no sense," said Hurley, who added that his election last December was after plans for the Presidents Cup were already in place.
The Presidents Cup is back in Île-Bizard for the first time since 2007.
Plante thanks residents for their 'sacrifice'
Before the changes were announced, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante said events like the Presidents Cup contribute to Montreal's reputation as a sports city and help fill restaurants and hotels.
Plante also acknowledged that the event is disruptive for residents in the area and thanked them for their "sacrifice."
"For sure, it's going to create disturbances, but what we're trying to do is reassure people that we're constantly trying to improve things," she said, adding that Montrealers should be proud of the event.
"We have to be proud of being in a big city that is able to welcome guests and do it in a big way," she said.
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