Construction of the Alexandre-DeSève mechanical ventilation station
Project summary
As part of our program to refurbish métro infrastructure, starting in March 2018, we will start building the Alexandre-DeSève mechanical ventilation station, located on De Champlain between De Maisonneuve and Sainte-Catherine.
There is an existing station on De Maisonneuve. Built during the second half of the 1960s, the station has now reached the end of its service life and must be replaced. Our project involves building a new, quieter and more efficient ventilation station that meets the new safety standards and complies with City of Montréal noise bylaws.
Duration of the work: March 2018 to spring 2023
Description of the work: Construction of a new mechanical ventilation station
Impact on local residents
Overnight work
Concrete work will take place in the métro tunnel on the night of February 8 to 9, 2023. This absolutely must be done while the métro is not in operation. If you live near the site, you may hear noise from the concrete mixers and pump.
We understand the impact that this work may have on neighbourhood noise levels. Rest assured that we are taking all measures necessary to reduce disturbances.
Worksite update
We are making progress on the Alexandre-DeSève mechanical ventilation station. We have finished the concrete work on all basement-level infrastructure and will be able to start on the building’s exterior concrete soon. We expect to start landscaping in the spring.
We are making progress on the Alexandre-DeSève mechanical ventilation station. The work that was rescheduled due to damage from a fire in late 2020 is now complete. We are still doing concrete work, which will continue until early 2023. The plan is to finish the entire project by spring 2023.
Please be informed that the site will be active on Saturday, April 2, during the hours permitted by municipal by-laws. More work may be done on Saturdays for the next few weeks.
On December 30, 2020, there was a fire at the Alexandre-DeSève mechanical ventilation station worksite. The area is being cleaned up and inspected to determine the extent of the damages caused by the fire. These procedures will continue over the next few weeks. Construction work in areas not affected by the fire should be able to continue, while inspections and some repair work in the affected area are carried out. The start date of this work will depend on inspection results and cleanup progress.
- Any construction work likely to generate noise will be scheduled between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays. In accordance with municipal regulations, some work may at times have to continue over the weekend to keep the project on schedule.
- Excavation work will produce vibrations that may be felt by residents living next to the worksite. We have hired an independent consulting firm to survey all buildings (photographs) around the worksite. The inspections will serve to document the condition of buildings before and after construction. In the unlikely event that any damage is reported, an expert opinion could help determine whether the damage is the result of the vibrations produced by the project. Property owners concerned by the inspections will be notified accordingly.
- A traffic and signage plan was prepared by an expert firm in collaboration with representatives from the Ville-Marie borough, the City of Montréal, the Ministère des transports, the Sécurité publique and the Montréal fire department. The plan will minimize the impact of construction on vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian and emergency services movements.
Learn more about the project
A mechanical ventilation station is a large infrastructure located between two métro stations that is equipped with two powerful fans designed to extract hot air from the métro system through inlets fitted with air vents. Ventilation stations built for the original métro system extract around 60,000 cubic feet of air per minute, while the new ventilation systems extract around 240,000 cubic feet per minute. Huge noise suppressors mitigate the noise from these fans to ensure quiet for residents living close to a ventilation station.
1. Preparation of worksite
- Fencing off the work area
- Installing work equipment
Approximate timeframe: 2 months
2. Excavation at ground level
Approximate timeframe: 5 months
3. Excavation in the rock bed
- Micro-blasting will be required to break into the rock bed
Approximate timeframe: 12 to 14 months
4. Installation of a membrane to ensure water-tightness of all infrastructures
Approximate timeframe: 2 months
5. Concrete work for ventilation station
- Concrete work for all infrastructures
Approximate timeframe: 9 months
6. Installation of mechanical and electrical equipment, as well as architectural finishes and exterior design
- Delivery of equipment to worksite
- Installation of equipment
- Performance testing on mechanical equipment
- Construction of ventilation station’s external structure
Approximate timeframe: 4 months
Contenu de l'onglet 5
Stay informed
Stay informed of the project’s progress and other events by signing up for the electronic newsletter.
This work is made possible through funding from the Ministère des Transports du Québec.