A decision concerning a superhospital traffic tweak came to a crossroads Monday evening at a borough council meeting in Cote des Neiges-Notre Dame de Grace.
The hotly-debated plan to modify the five-pronged confluence of Decarie Blvd., Upper Lachine Rd. and De Maisonneuve Blvd. has run on for years due to construction work forced by the MUHC superhospital.
Many have expressed a fear that the crossing would become overburdened and possibly dangerous if a long-planned change to allow De Maisonneuve to run two ways east of Addington were to be approved.
In the end the plan was approved by a vote of four to two.
An exit from Highway 15 south was built at De Maisonneuve in 2008 to allow superhospital-bound motorists to get to their destination without travelling extensively through residential streets, however the opening of the highway exit was delayed because there wasn't any eastbound route to the hospital.
Monday's decision means that in just over one month, drivers will have that route opened.
City Councillor Peter McQueen has opposed the dual-direction stretch because it will add considerable traffic to the intersection. He notes that pedestrians at Decarie Blvd. are already pressured to hustle through the Decarie-De Maisonneuve crossing with too-short green lights.
McQueen wants the traffic lights modified to allow pedestrians and cyclists much more time than they currently have to traverse.
CDN/NDG borough mayor Russell Copeman said the new traffic tweak is not negotiable because 400 new vehicles are expected to take the route per hour in the morning and forcing them to leave Highway 15 south at the current exit on Sherbrooke St. would simply overburden that roadway.
Copeman argued that the longer route would take more time and conceivably endanger the lives of people being rushed to hospital in ambulances.
The construction modifications required to transform De Maisonneuve into a two-way street from Addington to Decarie is expected to be completed by April 26.
Copeman said that any worries about traffic issues at the busy intersection will be studied and remedied. “The question is finding the balance between pedestrians, cyclists and cars, including emergency vehicles,” Copeman told CTV Montreal Monday.
The borough mayor also blasted those who oppose the dual-direction route.
“It’s inconceivable to me that I potentially have colleagues who would vote against making De Maisonneuve a two way section. The off-ramp was built in 2008, it’s the most direct route for vehicles,” he said.
McQueen also expressed frustration that his proposal to build a bike and pedestrian path alongside the current railway tracks hasn’t materialized.
The traffic woes are expected to be further compounded with the lengthy rebuild of the bridge over the Decarie on St. Jacques, which will force many more cars through the Decarie/De Maisonneuve intersection.
