MONTREAL - Starting Monday Jan. 24 west end drivers will have to cope with the closure of Decarie Blvd. north of St. Jacques Blvd.
The closures are expected to create traffic backlogs for NDG/Westmount residents and others who routinely use the St. Jacques exit on the 720 West, and the shortest connection from NDG to the 15 South/720 West.
The roadway is being dug up in order to install a new sewer sytem for the MUHC superhospital.
The closure was initially scheduled for Dec. 7, 2010, but was delayed for seven weeks, and officials are now saying the closures may last until the autumn of 2012.
Local businesses, especially those located along De Maisonneuve Blvd like Nelson's Garage, are worried that the roadwork will be detrimential.
"I'm definitely concerned." Gordon Nelson said. "We're goin to lose any driveby traffic and it poses a problem for our clients to get here."
Some detours began in early December, but the rest will soon go into effect.
The onramp from Girouard to the 15 South/720 West is now off-limits. Decarie Blvd. between de Maisonneuve and St. Jacques will be restricted to one lane of southbound local traffic.
Drivers who normally head north on Decarie Blvd. will have to continue west until they reach Girouard, which is now two lanes in each direction from Sherbrooke straight through to St. Jacques.
People who use the Girouard access ramp to the Turcot Interchange will instead have to get on the 15 South at Cote St. Luc.
