Citizens renew push for pedestrian bridge connecting NDG to Southwest borough

Citizens and politicians are renewing calls for Transports Qubecto follow through on a 2010 promise to builda pedestrian and cycling bridge connecting theNotre-Dame-de-Grceand Southwest boroughs.

The connecting bridge was part of the originalTurcotInterchange plan, but was scrapped not long into the process because it was deemed too expensive, according tothe Ministry.

• Bike path still not part ofTurcotInterchange plans

More than a hundred cyclists and activists rallied along the Lachine CanalSunday, demanding that theQuebec government reinstate the planfor the bridge, also known as the Dalle-Parc.

The projectwould facilitate travel between the canal and the Notre-Dame-de-Grce neighbourhoodvia the St-Jacques escarpment, nearthe southern end ofCavendishBoulevard.

'We feel that we've been duped'

Craig Sauv,citycouncillorfor the Southwest, joined in urging the government to rethink axing theDalle-Parc.

He said the Turcot plans were strongly opposed by local residents early on because of concerns over traffic and pollution, and the bike path was a bare minimum concession for cyclists and pedestrians.

"We wanted a better project something that would serve the community better. Unfortunately, the Quebec government didn't give us that, but they gave us one thing that they promised, and that was this overpass," Sauv said. "We feel that we've been duped."

Sauv also called the financial reasoning to scrap the bridge into question. Proponents of the bike path argue that it would have cost about $40 million roughly one per cent of the total Turcot project costs.

"We're hoping the government takes action," saidSauv.

Building with cyclists in mind

Before the rally, demonstrators travelled along the existing bike route between NDG and the Southwest.

Flix Gravel,assistant director of the Regional Environmental Council of Montreal, said that Transports Qubecneeds to keep all road-users in mind, not just drivers.

The council hasstarted an online petition to be delivered to Premier PhilippeCouillard, which has already attracted over 10,000 signatures.

Irwin Rapoport, from NDG, told CBC he'd consider cyclingmore often if the connecting bridge was built.

"I use the bike path at times to get to the Lachine Canal and to the Southwest," Rapoport said. "It's a good link for NDG residents, but having a bridge across the Turcot yards would be even better."

A spokesperson for Transport Quebec said on Sunday that a connecting bridge may still be possible, but such plans would only be set in motion after completion of the Turcot interchange between 2020-2022.