Bike path to link Montreal's downtown with Lachine Canal, eventually

It looks like cyclists willget their wish: a path that runs north-south from downtown through Old Montreal and on tothe Lachine Canal.

But it's expected to take a while.

The bike path is still in the planning stages, and slated to be completed in four or five years' time.

Richard Bergeron, head of urban planning on the city's executive committee, said it will run along the new Robert-Bourrassa Boulevard, in alane that will be designated for buses coming from the South Shoreuntil 2020-21, when the proposed light rail train goes intoservice.

A bike path was not originally part of the revamped boulevard, which is expected to be completed in the fall of 2017.

The bike path will also link upwith University Street north of de Maisonneuve Boulevard, said Marc-AndrGadoury, who is responsible for cycling in the Coderre administration.

The bike path is part of an overhaul of the area around the Bonaventure Expressway, which was torn down last year and replaced with Robert-Bourrassa Boulevard.

• Montreal's Bonaventure Expressway comes down

MarcJolicoeur of Vlo Qubec welcomed the commitment,but he said he would have preferred to have seen a bike path in the original design.