Montreal streets, subway line reopen after tunnel repairs

Montreal's Mtro was fully operational again and most downtown streets were reopened in time for Monday morning's rush hour after crews worked non-stop on the weekend to shore up the ceiling of a pedestrian tunnel thatwas at risk of collapsing.

City officials cordoned off a seven-block perimeter of the downtown core on Friday, closed part of the Mtro's Green Line and evacuated buildings while they investigated two cracks running the length of a city block.

Workers then installed about 1,000 metal posts under the concrete slab over the tunnel, which links the McGillstation to theBay department store and malls.

Mayor Grard Tremblay told a news conference Sunday night that businesses in the zone may now reopen and six train stationsalongtheGreen Line were back in operation.

The only stretch of road still closed to vehicles on Monday isde Maisonneuve Boulevard, from Aylmer Street to Union Avenue.

The concrete ceiling had dropped about 2 centimetres, but Tremblay said there is no longer any risk of a collapse.

The security perimeter had left dozens of retail businesses closedduring the busy back-to-school shopping period.

The fissures were discovered during a summer of heightened anxiety over the province's aging infrastructure.

Inspections and hearings over crumbling roadways have been on the minds of Quebecers and the agendas of politicians.

Last September, an overpass in neighbouring Laval collapsed on a highway, killing five motorists and injuring six others.