Entrepreneurs, contractors in the public space and site managers, I send you a cry from the heart: PICK UP! My city, our metropolis, gateway to Quebec and Canada is not a dumping ground.
Posted at 3:00 p.m.
The number of construction sites in Montreal confirms the economic vitality of our metropolis. It is therefore perfectly understandable to see road signs indicating detours and orange cones announcing the presence of construction sites. Their main mission is to ensure the safety of workers and the population. It is therefore with enthusiasm that I join in this wave of renewal aimed at maintaining, modernizing and even rebuilding our metropolis.
Where I dissociate myself, however, is when I see, once the construction sites are finished, regiments of abandoned cones and armies of road signs which, if not useful, litter our sidewalks, thus hindering the circulation of passers-by.
This careless practice must stop!
The City of Montreal manages nearly 25% of construction sites in the city and makes a great deal of effort to ensure the fluidity of travel, the quality of construction sites and the accountability of clients. Despite everything, the delinquents are plethora and their negligence constitutes in my eyes a real affront to our city, to its administration, to its citizens and to the visitors who flock from the four corners of the world.
Private contractors, partly responsible for the sites, must provide their share.
The public domain cannot be used as a storage place for bollards, cones, panels, or even barriers between two construction sites. This practice heavily affects the circulation of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.
These inadmissible negligence not only act as visual pollution, they literally disfigure our downtown. Thus, failing to be able to freely enjoy the charms of our city, fellow citizens and visitors are forced into a degrading experience which consists in constantly being wary of the obstacles blocking their way, and this, practically at every street corner.
That’s not all. Another reality deserves to be questioned.
Properly securing construction sites in our metropolis is obviously non-negotiable, but would it be asking too much of you, dear officials of the Quebec Ministry of Transport, to imagine a proposal different from the one creating corridors of orange cones on our urban boulevards? You are responsible for establishing the rules to ensure the safety of construction sites, but these rules should be adapted to dense urban environments such as Montreal, UNESCO city of design.
In Quebec, we are internationally recognized for our creativity. Thus, I am convinced that you will be able to help us benefit from innovative solutions for better supervision of our construction sites, which will ensure both worker safety and respect for our urban landscape.
Dear entrepreneurs, contractors in the public space and site managers, at Tourisme Montréal, we work hard to attract visitors and promote the metropolis around the world. You too work hard to repair, build and improve our city which attracts millions of tourists every year. The city of Montreal is beautiful when we collaborate; we are going in the same direction.
I ask you humbly, but firmly: please pick yourself up!