Closing of St-Mathieu entrance – the make-over begins!

From March 5 to August 26, the STM will be proceeding with major renovations that entail the closing of the St-Mathieu entrance. Guy-Concordia métro station will remain open and access will be possible by using the Guy entrance. Most of the entrance’s features, including concrete slabs, floor and wall coverings, staircases, and lighting systems, will be upgraded!

A well-planned closing

With more than 8 million passenger rides recorded in 2011, Guy-Concordia is the third busiest station in the network. Measures have been devised to ensure that customers transit smoothly through the station.

You may have noticed that turnstiles have been added on the Guy entrance side of the station. This initiative will allow us to handle the extra volume of traffic. Moreover, no bus stops have been moved. If you travel on southbound bus lines 165 or 166, you can remain on board until you reach the terminus located on Guy Street. However, since less than 200 metres separate both entrances, you may consider walking as a healthy alternative.

Real benefits for customers:

	Comfort Natural ventilation will be enhanced with the addition of motorized shutters. This change will improve customer comfort in a positive way.
	Cleanliness Installation of water collectors (foot grilles) will not only help keep the station clean by draining away the slush caused by pedestrian traffic during the winter season, but will also make the job of maintenance employees easier.
	Safety Adding windows at street level will improve safety and allow increased visibility for customers.
	Accessibility Replacing swinging doors with four pivoting doors, including an automated one, will improve accessibility for seniors, persons with limited mobility, as well as parents travelling with children in strollers.

A singular past

Guy-Concordia was the first métro station designed in the early sixties by City of Montréal architects. This project helped establish most of the architectural standards for the initial network. When the métro was first inaugurated in 1966, the St-Mathieu entrance was the only entrance covered in wood shingles. Although this installation was supposed to be temporary, until its eventually inclusion in some future plan, it managed to survive some thirty years!

Major renovation work to be carried out over the next few months will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of this station’s entrance.

The turnstiles and the fare collector booth are well protected from dust particles by made to measure dust covers.	To prevent damage caused by dust, the escalators have been recovered by plywood stairs for safety reasons in case of evacuation.
Granit stairs have been removed. The concrete beneath the stairs will be restored before installing new stairs.	In view of the extent of the work involved, it was necessary to completely close this entrance.

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