Turcot plan worries residents

Some residents in Montreal's Southwest borough are worried what will happen to their homes when the Quebec government unveils its plans to revamp the Turcot interchange next week.

Following public hearings before Quebec's environmental assessment board in spring 2009, the province was forced to re-think it's original $1.5 billion plan to tear down and rebuild the aging interchange.

The proposal, submitted in 2007, was criticized for not containing any firm commitment to additional public transit.

Concerns were also raised about the increase in vehicle traffic and the expropriation of roughly 160 housing units.

Nicholas Santillo says he still doesn't know if he'll have a place to live when Quebec unveils the final version of its project expected as early as Tuesday.

"I haven't received anything personally. I've only been here since July, but I don't remember receiving anything."

Santillo lives in an old warehouse at 780 Saint-Rmi street.

The building, which houses mostly artists, had been slated for expropriation under the old plan.

City councillor Vronique Fournier says she doesn't understand why Quebec Transport Minister, Sam Hamad, still hasn't met with officials in her borough.

Fournier says the Southwest is where the project is happening and where it will have the greatest impact on residents.

"Can we have an answer? Can we have any proposition about the new project? Because right now all the citizens are in a hide and seek situation with [Quebec's Transport Ministry] regarding a project which will have a major impact for the next years."

Local politicians are receiving support from the opposition at Montreal city hall.

Vision Montreal leader, Louise Harel says the borough's proximity to the future construction site demands the province consult with borough officals before manking any final announcements. "It seems to me that Mr. Hamad and his ministry should be testing the waters in the Southwest."

La Presse newspaper reported Wednesday the government will spend $3 billion to revamp the crumbling interchange - more than double its initial estimate.

Sources tell the newspaper the number of expropriations, however, will be lower under the new proposal.

Winners include the residents of rue Cazelais in the part of St. Henri known as ''les Tanneries' where 60 homes will be saved from the wrecking ball.

780 Saint-Rmi is still scheduled to be expropriated according to the article, but part of the building will be saved.

Some 280,000 vehicles travel the Turcot interchange daily. The towering concrete structure connects Montreal's Ville-Marie Expressway (720), the Decarie Autoroute (15) and Highway 20.