Montréal, June 16, 2014 ‒ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal notes the announcement of 2014-2016 road investments for the Montréal area made by Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, Robert Poëti.
“During pre-budget consultations, the Board of Trade asked the Government of Québec to complete the road infrastructure projects currently under way in the Montréal area, regardless of the pressure on public finances,” said Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “So the announcements about work on the Turcot and Dorval interchanges and redoing lanes on main roads in the metropolitan area are good news for the city.”
“However, we are surprised to see that strategic and priority projects for the metropolitan area, including access to the Port of Montréal, have once again been delayed by Government of Québec administrative processes,” Michel Leblanc said. “We are aware that infrastructure projects need to go through rigorous analysis, but their completion should not be unduly delayed.”
“The Board of Trade also wonders why there was no mention of covering the Ville-Marie Expressway as part of the 2014-2016 program,” Michel Leblanc said. “This is a priority project that needs to be finalized by 2017 to create a legacy for the 375th anniversary of Montréal. We ask the government to waste no time in announcing the source of the budget for this project.”
“Finally, we applaud the government’s intention to ensure the fluid circulation of people and merchandise while this work is completed, through a Mobilité Montréal committee and the implementation of mitigation measures,” Michel Leblanc said. “These are crucial initiatives to limit the impact of these projects on traffic, and, in turn, on our economy.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
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:
Michelle LLambias Meunier
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4042
mllambias@ccmm.qc.ca
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