Turcot Interchange detours for ramp closures irk NDG mayor

Major work is about to begin on the Turcot Interchange, with several ramps being shut down as of next Monday.

TransportsQubecwill close both exit ramps on Highway 15 North that go onto theVille-MarieExpressway at theTurcotInterchange for 2 months.

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The ministry is recommending drivers coming from the southcontinue northbound along Highway 15pastTurcot and exit theDcarieExpressway atCte-Saint-LucRoad. They can then loop around back onto theDcarie Expressway south in order to take the Ville-Marie Expressway east or west.

For many commuters, that will mean a five-kilometre detour through the borough ofCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grcefrom March 31 until June, and that has borough mayor RussellCopemanupset over what he said is a lack of communication.

What I find difficult to accept is that we get about 24 hours' notice via a press release announcing that in a week that those two interchanges will close and that the suggested detour brings people to the corner ofDcarieandCte-Saint-LucRoad,Copemansaid.

He said the work on theTurcotInterchange may very well be necessary, but the mitigation measures TransportsQubecsuggestsdont necessarily make a lot of sense.

Copeman said he doesnt understand why TransportsQubecdidnt suggest alternate routes to drivers, such as getting downtown by using the Bonaventure Expressway after exiting the Champlain Bridge.

That intersection is already under tremendous pressure because of the closure of the Ville-Marie on-ramp at St-Jacques, because of upcoming work on Sherbrooke Street, he continued.

Transports Qubec said it has been communicating regularly with city officialsabout coordinating roadwork efforts.

The ministry told CBC it's willing to discuss more issues with the borough if other concerns arise over the next few months.

RickLeckner, a city representative who sits on a ministry transport committee,said the ministry didn't have a lot of options.

"There'sa pretty brief window of what has to be done, and so much work to be done. There is a lot of work that was urgent," Leckner said, adding that the project was supposed to have been discussed further at this month's committee meeting but the meetingwas cancelled.

"The reason Iwas given was there were insufficient items for the agenda.That's their opinion Iquestion it."

Leckner says it's too late now to argue the project's wheels are in motion.