The city of Montreal wants public input on how to revamp Ste. Catherine St.
Major infrastructure work is scheduled to take place on the commercial street in two years and Mayor Denis Coderre wants to use the time as an opportunity to make improvements.
He also wants to avoid the devastation of work and re-work that laid waste to St. Laurent Blvd.
The work to be done is crucial work on sewer systems and water mains, some of which date to the 1800s, and the city says if it is not done another sinkhole such as the one that swallowed a backhoe last summer could happen again.
Coderre is asking for creative ways to change everything on the 2.5 km between Atwater St. and Bleury St.
"We have to renew all the infrastructure, but I think Ste. Catherine deserves more than just to change a pipe," said Coderre.
His personal wishlist is for integrating public transit, widening sidewalks, installing underground parking and changing light fixtures.
"If we all participate in the process... we have the opportunity to say, okay, what kind of Ste. Catherine do you want? Let's all dream together."
The first phase of the project will be between Bleury St. and Mansfield in the spring of 2016 and last two to three years.
The cost for that section's basic work will be $80 to $95 million.
