MONTREAL - Drivers across Quebec should brace for another long summer of road construction.
The Quebec government is planning to spend $3.9 billion on roadwork this coming year.
More than $400 million of that will be spent in Montreal, including refurbishing the Decarie Interchange, reinforcing the elevated Metropolitan highway and continuing work on the Dorval Circle.
Overall there will be 50 work sites on the island of Montreal, which promises to make driving a challenge this summer.
Engineers will continue to survey the old Turcot Interchange to keep it in tolerable condition until it is slated to be replaced with new construction.
Two-thirds of overpasses in good condition
Transportation Minister Sam Hamad says 72 percent of roadways in Quebec are in good shape, along with 66 percent of overpasses.
In 2006 only 53 percent of overpasses were considered to be in good condition.
"The work is not yet completed," said Hamad.
"We are still working on that, and we still have work to do, why we are investing this year $3.9 billion in our infrastructure."
"But if you have [not] been in Quebec since 2002, and you left Quebec and you come back today you will see a big difference."
The roadwork budget is lower than in 2009 as a result of the end of the federal fiscal stimulus package.
The decrease in expenditures is a trend that is expected to continue for the foreseeable future, aside from the reconstruction of the Turcot Interchange.
Map of construction projects planned for Montreal in 2011
List of construction projects
