The plan to revamp the Turcot interchange is running into some late objections from the city of Montreal.
Mayor Gerald Tremblay says he does not like the existing plan, so his engineers have developed their own ideas for redeveloping the Turcot.
The city's proposal is radically different from what the provincial agency is planning, and is based on a raised, two-lane circular roundabout-like structure.
It does not rely on a ground-level four-lane highway, and so would not require the expropriation of any homes.
"it is my responsibility to best defend the interest of all Montrealers," said Mayor Tremblay.
Opposition leader Louise Harel supports Tremblay's vision.
"We can be unanimous in Montreal and we need that," said Harel.
Projet Montreal leader Richard Bergeron, who sits on the city's executive committee as the man responsible for urban development, is also proposing a tramway to parallel highway 20.
"This tram could be in service in 18 months," said Bergeron, and it would service residential and commercial areas that are somewhat isolated from downtown Montreal. "It's the easiest tramway to implement in Montreal."
Convincing the province might not be as easy.
Transport Minister Julie Boulet has said any changes to the Turcot plan would depend on having the structure completed by 2017, and controlling costs.
The mayor says his plan doesn't include that information yet, because it depends on provincial research.
"I think that that information should be made available as soon as possible so that we can as partners discuss the additional costs," said Mayor Tremblay.
That would mean more talks, and more delays, for a project that has already been discussed for years.
