MONTREAL

North Shore, Laval, Montreal mayors lobby for Hwy 19 extension

CTV Montreal Published Tuesday, February 3, 2015 4:35PM EST

The extension of Highway 19 would ease traffic through the North Shore, Laval and into Montreal, proponents say.

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North Shore mayors are uniting with Laval and Montreal mayors to lobby Quebec for an extension to Highway 19.

They’re asking Transportation Minister Robert Poeti to prioritize the proposed $600-million project, saying citizens in the area have waited decades for the plan to be realized.

The proposed extension would connect the 440 and 640 from Laval to Bois-des-Filion, and would involve four lanes, including reserved bus lanes.

Construction would also include a bridge over the Milles-Iles River.

Supporters say the new route would vastly improve the flow of traffic between Montreal and the North Shore, while opponents argue the extension would encourage urban sprawl.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, on a visit to Paris, appeared via video link to lend his support to the plan.

The results of public consultations on the project are expected in mid-March.