300 citizens present at the first information session of the public
consultation on phase 1 of Bonaventure Expressway transformation project

MONTREAL , Nov. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Last night, the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) started the consultation process on the transformation project for the Bonaventure Expressway, at the limit of the boroughs of Sud-Ouest and Ville-Marie with a first information session.

Almost 300 persons attended that meeting to hear the presentation of the project by the representatives of the Société du Havre de Montréal (SHM). At this occasion the citizens had the opportunity to raise all their concerns on the different components of the project. Questions were raised on transportation, traffic, public housing, urban planning and the timetable of the project, among other topics.

It was explained that it is at the request of the Ville de Montréal, that the Société du Havre de Montréal has prepared a detailed pre-project design report on the redevelopment of the Bonaventure Expressway, proposing the transformation of the expressway into an arterial urban road between Saint-Jacques and Brennan Streets, and the establishment of a living neighbourhood, on land freed up by the project, as a new downtown gateway. The report also proposes the development of an exclusive, dedicated corridor for public transportation along Dalhousie Street.

The development concept involves central city blocks, the Canadian National rail viaduct, the western frontage of the Récollets faubourg, the De la Commune city block to the south, the Dalhousie corridor to the west, and the transformation of the Bonaventure corridor where the expressway will be brought to ground level and transformed into an arterial urban road.

The Office de consultation publique received the mandate from the Montréal executive committee to consult the public on the project. Various issues are examined at three information sessions. The first one, last night, was devoted to the presentation of the project and surrounding context. The second evening, this coming Thursday, November 26 , will be devoted to the viability and liveability of the new neighbourhood created by the project, while the last one, on December 1st , will focus on transportation issues, including the choice of the Dalhousie corridor. The three meetings will be held in the halls of the Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde, 1110 Mansfield Street (Peel Metro) at 7:00p.m. Citizens who attend will have the opportunity to ask any question they like about the project.

The presentation of briefs will take place on Tuesday, January 12 , at 7:00 p.m. , at the offices of the OCPM, 1550 Metcalfe Street, 14th floor (Peel Metro).

All available information may be obtained at the offices of the OCPM, the Ville-Marie borough office, 888 de Maisonneuve Boulevard East, 5th floor, and the Sud-Ouest borough office, 815 Bel-Air Street. The documentation is also available on the Office Web site, at www.ocpm.qc.ca . For information, please call 514 872-8510.

For further information: Luc Doray, [phone], [phone] (cell.)