Press release
Infrastructure collapse on the Ville-Marie Expressway:
A reminder of the urgency to act
Montréal, August 1, 2011 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is again stressing the importance of quickly and efficiently bringing road infrastructure up to standard.
“This is an extremely worrisome event. We should consider ourselves very lucky that nobody was injured. Right now, the government needs to do everything it can to ensure the safety of the site and reopen this major transportation corridor as soon as possible,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
“The collapse shows the urgent need to invest significantly in upgrading our infrastructure. We are reaching out to the Minister of Transport, Sam Hamad, the Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Raymond Bachand, and the premier, Jean Charest, to make sure the Gouvernement du Québec is fully aware of the seriousness of what is happening and of the necessity to prioritize infrastructure upgrades. We should be able to rely on fluid, modern, efficient and, obviously, safe transportation systems,” stated Mr. Leblanc.
“Transportation is a major concern for the members of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. We are demanding that all levels of government prioritize the development of transportation infrastructure—that could mean maintaining or replacing aging infrastructure, extending the road system or implementing a fully developed public transit system. It is also important to have well thought out mitigation plans in place and effectively communicate them to the public. The city’s development and economic vitality depend on these things,” Mr. Leblanc added.
Study by the Board of Trade on public transit
Strategic Forum on major transportation projects held by the Board of Trade
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of some 7,000 members. Its mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montréal and to provide individuals, merchants, and local businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec's leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca