Proposed sound barrier to quiet highway noise in Longueuil sparks debate on who should pay for it
Alejandra Camacho and her family love spending time in their backyard in Longueuil, but the peace and quiet can be disrupted by noise coming from Route 116.
A sound barrier to block the noise would help, but the city wants residents to help foot the bill.
Camacho says she called the city when she made an offer on the house in 2020. “They told me the money was there, and the wall would get built. I thought we would get a bonus, not suffer a loss,” she said.
A sound wall already exists, and the city paid for it.
Now, however, it says the project’s rising costs mean it can no longer pay for extending the barrier on its own.
At a meeting last month, the city proposed the 265 residents living near the highway pay a portion.
For Camacho, that would mean an additional $1,800 a year—more than half of her current municipal tax bill.
“Why was the first phase paid for by all taxpayers, and that’s no longer the case for phase two? It makes no sense,” she said.
In a statement, the City of Longueuil said: “All concerned residents can express their views about the proposal on our website. One thing is certain: the city will not be able to move forward without an alternative financial scenario. If the status quo persists, the project will have to be put on hold.”
That answer doesn’t sit well with resident Yvon Fortier.
“Forget it,” he told CTV News. “If it means I have to pay for it, I don’t want it. I’m retired, I want to continue to live comfortably. We also don’t want to sell the house at a loss.”
A decision on whether to extend the wall is expected by the fall.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Bank of Canada says financial system is stable, but risks remain
The Bank of Canada says the Canadian financial system is stable, but risks remain due to debt servicing costs among households and businesses and stretched valuations of financial assets.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
RateMDs violates privacy of health professionals, class-action lawsuit claims
A lawsuit against RateMDs has been given the go-ahead by a B.C. Supreme Court judge who found the claim that the website violates the privacy rights of medical professionals is not 'bound to fail.'
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.
Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.