Press release
Reconstruction of the Turcot Interchange: A major project for Montréal and Quebec
Montréal, June 19, 2009 The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal today submitted its brief on the Turcot Interchange reconstruction project as part of the public hearings held by the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement.
The Turcot interchange is the metropolitan area's most important transportation hub and plays a pivotal role in the mobility of people and goods transportation, particularly as regards exports by road and access to railway, port and air cargo facilities. Greater Montréal is the point of origin for 70% of Quebec's exports, said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal.
The project put forward by the Ministère des Transports has sparked various reactions from the partners and suggestions for improvement. Given the condition of the interchange and its strategic importance to the economic development of the metropolitan area and Quebec as a whole, it is nevertheless important to get this project off the ground as soon as possible, added Mr. Leblanc.
The Board of Trade's position may be summarized as follows:
- Since user safety is at play and given the extreme importance of the Turcot Interchange to the Montréal economy, the reconstruction project must begin and be completed as soon as possible.
- The Turcot Interchange is a pivotal part of the city's transportation network and as such, it is important to keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible during the work.
- The following three main principles should guide the project's design and execution, in order of priority:
- First, it must keep local and transitory traffic flowing smoothly, taking into account the city's current and future volume;
- Second, it must include carpooling and public transit lanes as well as accommodate rail transportation;
- Third, it must enhance Montréal's signature as a UNESCO City of Design both in terms of its appearance and its impact on the accessibility and quality of life in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
- The project must respect the public partners' budget and not result in cost overruns.
Because a project of this magnitude is bound to have a disruptive effect on the metropolitan transportation network, steps must be taken to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible during the roadwork. As well, the three major principlesfluidity, integration and designmust be an integral part of all the project phases, from conception to implementation. Lastly, the project must be completed on budget, concluded Michel Leblanc.
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary 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
Coordinator, Media relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca