Cyclists, pedestrians kicked off Gilles-Villeneuve racetrack to accommodate promoter

Access to the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve will be restricted in the coming months to accommodate eventshosted by a private promoter, leaving many cyclists, runners and in-line skatersin the lurch.

The circuit will be closed from May 8 to Sept. 4 to make way for events,like the popular Osheaga music festival, itself displaced by construction onneighbouringleSainte-Hlne.

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"It's kind of a disappointment," said Michel Morrissette, who runsCycle Technique, a bicycle shop.

The racetrack is perhaps best-known as the site of the Canadian Grand Prix. But when it's not being used for F1 it is popular spot for amateur athletes of all types.

"We are really close by, so we have a lot of people who come from elsewhere who park here, hop on their bikes and head towards the circuit," said Morrissette.

TheSocit du Parc Jean-Drapeau(SPJD)the group that runs the park onleSainte-Hlne is undertakingseveral large-scale projects there, including a 65,000-seat amphitheatre being built atrequest of event promoterEvenko.

The SPJD also runs the racetrack on le Notre-Dame.It announced Friday that it would let Evenkouse the racetrack for its events while construction on leSainte-Hlne is underway.

While Evenko cancelled its Heavy Montreal festival because of the construction, it still plans to holdleSoniq, Bal en Blancand concerts by TheXX, The1975,MetallicaandGuns N' Roses this summer on CircuitGilles-Villeneuve.

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Alain Vaillancourt, Projet Montral's sports and leisure critic, says the city is prioritizingapromoter over its residents.

"The more I look into it, the more I would say that they have definitely privileged Evenko the private events, the construction of the amphitheatre over Montrealers and the use of the facilities for everybody," he said.

Vaillancourt, who uses the circuitto train for triathlons, added that theSPJDgave residents and sporting groups very little notice to plan or relocate ahead of summer training.

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ProjetMontralhas launched a petitionto keep the circuit openand plans to deliver it to Montreal Mayor DenisCoderreat the next municipal council meeting.

"This is the only place on the island of Montreal where you can come cycling and be without cars," Vaillancourtsaid.

"There's thousands of people who use it, and people aren't going to know until they show up. This is in two weeks."

Aquatic complex also closed

The SPJD also sparked anger a few weeks ago when it was announced that the aquatic complex on leSainte-Hlne would close for the season due toconstruction and dust from its projects.

The rowing basin will also be affected and paddlers and rowers will not be allowed to hold competitions during concert events.

The complex isn't expected to reopen until 2018.

The SPJDsays visitors will still have access to Jean-Drapeau beach anda new bus route will be created to shuttle them there.

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The South Shore cycling path which connects le Notre-Dame to Longueuil will continue to be operational throughout the summer. A2.5-kilometre training circuit for high-level cyclists will be set up on weeknights when event schedules allow.