Construction sites in the Sud-Ouest: Craig Sauvé wants a health risk assessment

MONTREAL, Aug. 30, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Craig Sauvé, city councillor for Saint-Henri–La Petite-Bourgogne–Pointe-Saint-Charles, is worried that the numerous construction and public works' sites in the Sud-Ouest borough may pose a health risk to his constituents. The Projet Montréal elected official is requesting that the Direction de santé publique de Montréal (DSP) assess the pollution and noise-related risks to which his fellow neighbourhood residents are exposed. "Citizens of the Sud-Ouest are worried, and they deserve clear answers to their questions. I believe Montreal's department of public health (DSP) is best suited to give them those answers", said Mr. Sauvé.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the head of public health of the CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Dr. Richard Massé, Craig Sauvé states that there is no higher concentration of urban construction sites anywhere in Quebec than in the Sud-Ouest borough. "The construction sites of the Turcot complex, the Champlain bridge, and highways 15, 20 and 720 leave no respite to my fellow citizens of the Sud-Ouest, who are constantly exposed to noise and phenomenal amounts of dust", explains Craig Sauvé.

These construction sites are active 24 hours a day, so residents must endure noise day and night. Not surprisingly, many of them have developed sleep disorders, which may become serious health issues in the long run. "People who live near the construction sites also have to live with all that dust. The Department of transportation (MTQ) insists that only fine particles pose a health risk, but that doesn't help alleviate citizens' worries, especially those who already suffer from respiratory diseases because of their proximity to major road infrastructure", Mr. Sauvé adds.

The Projet Montréal city councillor is also pleading for increased surveillance and monitoring of trucks in the Sud-Ouest. "I'm very concerned about the number of trucks that run daily in our streets. They often drive very fast and they don't respect truck routes. This poses a real threat to the safety of our residents, in particular people with reduced mobility, pedestrians and cyclists", said Craig Sauvé.

While they await a response from the DSP, Projet Montréal elected officials in the Sud-Ouest will continue to put pressure on the MTQ to obtain more mitigation measures, with hopes to improve the quality of life of Sud-Ouest residents during these construction projects.

A copy of the letter sent by Craig Sauvé to Dr. Richard Massé of the DSP can be found here (in French): http://bit.ly/chantiers-lettre-dsp.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Opposition officielle à l'Hôtel de Ville de Montréal

Marie-Eve Gagnon, Attachée de presse, Cabinet de l'opposition officielle, 514 872-0247 / 514 516-3120, [email protected]