Royalmount mega-mall project a step closer to completion, but traffic concerns remain

After almost a decade in the works, a massive developmentproject planned for midtown Montreal is one step closer to completion.

Over the weekend, a200-metre-long pedestrian skywalkwas installed over theDcarie Expressway, connecting Montreal's de la Savane Metro station with the future Royalmount mega-mall complexinthe Town of Mount Royal (TMR) at the junction of Highways 15 and 40.

The enclosed walkway was added to the project to ease concerns aboutcongestionin the already busy area, offering an alternative to driving and encouraging the use of public transit.

Andrew Lutfy, CEO of Carbonleo, the project's developer, says thewalkway is a game changerfor Montreal and for the environment.

"We'll probably drive about 20 million visits or passengers through the sky bridge on an annual basis," he said. "That's 20 million people that are using green transportation."

Developers initially estimatedone-third of potential visitors to Royalmount would come by public transit, but now, they've upped that to two-thirds.

"[The bridge] is transformative forMontreal, for our society, for our planet," Lutfy said.

Meanwhile, politicians are less convinced.

Montreal Mayor Valrie Plante has long said the walkway is not sufficient to manage the influx of traffic.The area is already jammed with more than 360,000 vehicles a day.

Even TMR MayorPeter Malouf, an enthusiastic supporter of Royalmount, has his concerns.

"It's alarge project with alot of stores and a lot of restaurants," Malouf said."We have to face one fact that there'sgoing to be an increase in traffic to what is existing there."

A 'long overdue' solution

In addition to the walkway, Carbonleosays it's spending close to $30 million to expand the road network onCte-de-LiesseRoad, creatingdedicated lanes for trucks to head west onto Highway 40 to alleviate congestion nearthe complex.

But Malouf says the solution is clear and it's far from innovative.

He says completing theextension of Cavendish Boulevard to bypass the Canadian Pacific train yards that divide Cte Saint-Luc from Saint-Laurent will open up access for those trucks.

"Without Cavendish, that whole area is basically blocked in and we need to unblock it and it's long overdue. It's [been]over 60 years," said Malouf.

Despite decades of inaction by the city, Malouf thinks he can convince Montrealto move forward with theCavendish extension and get the province to help pay.

"I think the biggest challenge has always been the cost of it, the willingness to do it, etc.But we know the cost of not doing it is terrible," he said.

The Ministry of Transport refused to comment, saying the Cavendish extensionis the city of Montreal's project.

CBCreached out to the city for comment but did notreceivea response at the time of publication.

Lutfy, for his part, is undaunted by the traffic concerns, saying he is "1,000 per cent" sure people especially younger people who represent the majority of luxury shoppers will come by Metro.

Phase 1 of the Royalmount project the first of 19is scheduled tobe complete and available to the public by Aug. 15, 2024.It will include the shops, restaurants andgreen spaces.