Blue line extension – Preparatory work to come in the Lacordaire area

Press release

The STM will be undertaking preparatory work on the Blue line extension in the Lacordaire/Jean-Talon area and invites citizens, businesses and other concerned invididuals to be prepared.

Starting on May 25, preparatory work on the Blue line extension will be undertaken in the Lacordaire/Jean-Talon area. The work, which will be done during the day, will involve relocating urban public utilities, such as water pipes, sewers and conduits, and underground cabling, to free up the land for the mass excavation work needed to build the new métro station. Although the STM is concerned about limiting the impact of this work, street closures are planned, and the STM is recommending that citizens be well prepared by getting information ahead of time.

Cooperation between the STM and the City of Montréal to mitigate the impacts
The STM project teams, together with the City of Montréal, have made efforts to establish a scenario that will create the least possible impact on traffic despite the nature of the work to be done, which requires excavation up to six metres deep. Although there will be major closures on Jean-Talon Street, the phases of work are being planned to allow Jean-Talon to be partially reopened as soon as possible. Moreover, to limit the impacts for the public, the City of Montréal has decided to move up the upgrading of the water networks in the area of Bourdaloue Street to minimize traffic obstructions. The City has therefore mandated the STM to perform the work as part of the project that will begin shortly.

Details of street closures
The first phase of closures, east of Lacordaire, will last for approximately six months (phase 1), then west of Lacordaire for one or two weeks (start of phase 2). After that, one lane will be open westbound on the other side of Jean-Talon (rest of phase 2). On Lacordaire, at least one lane will remain open at all times in each direction.

Detours will be in effect, marked by appropriate road signage to help direct drivers. Several bus stops on lines 32, 131, 141 and 372 will be cancelled or moved. Citizens are urged to check bus stop signage or the STM’s real-time information tools to learn about all the details and plan their trips.

Access to neighbouring businesses will be maintained at all times during the work. In addition, pedestrian passageways will be set up to make it easier to get around.

Get information to be prepared
By visiting the web page dedicated to the project, at http://www.stm.info/en/info/service-updates/stm-works/lacordaire , those who are interested can access a variety of information on the Blue line extension and the preparatory work to come. Using video clips, the STM’s experts will present the nature of the work, obstructions and mitigation measures. Citizens will also be able to ask the experts questions online.

A call for citizen participation is also being launched. To ensure a way of connecting with residents on an ongoing basis throughout the work, a good neighbourhood committee made up of citizens, groups and institutions wanting to represent their community with regard to the project is currently being formed. It is possible to apply by completing the online form at http://www.stm.info/en/info/service-updates/stm-works/lacordaire .

To keep merchants affected by the extension project informed and to better understand their needs and concerns with regard to maintaining the area’s economic vitality, the STM has set up a business roundtable that includes representatives from the business community, the STM, and the City of Montréal and its boroughs.

These mechanisms will allow the STM to continue the dialogue begun with the community, in particular during the public consultation on the extension held in winter 2020.