A section of Larivière Street will become the first “sponge street” in Montreal, in the Sainte-Marie district, an area where several residents have seen their homes flooded repeatedly in recent years.
One side of the street, already closed to traffic at rue De Lorimier, will be dug with retention basins, similar to ponds, to collect rainwater coming from areas located upstream.
“In this corner of the island, we are at the bottom of a hill, in a natural basin,” underlined Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante, presenting the project on Tuesday. “Heavy rains and extreme weather events are becoming more and more frequent, we had a lot more of them this year. »
This is why the City of Montreal, in addition to working to improve its waterworks and sewer networks, is also working to make surface improvements, adds the mayor.
“No zero risk”
Will the sponge street improve the situation of citizens faced with recurring flooding for several years in this neighborhood?
“It will help improve the situation, but it’s not a sponge street that will solve the problem, it’s impossible,” replies Mme Plant. Even if we redo all the aqueducts throughout the city, it will not prevent flooding or other consequences linked to climate change. Torrential rains are a new reality. We must put different tools in place to have the best performance, but there is no zero risk. »
Many citizens claim that it is the obsolescence of the City’s sewer network that causes flooding, due to its inability to absorb rainwater. A request for authorization to bring a class action against the City was also filed last March by citizens of the Sainte-Marie and Hochelaga districts, who had to carry out major work after water damage and cannot no longer insure their homes against refoulement.
Last year, following the torrential rains of September 13, the City received 920 claims for compensation from flooded residents, the fourth highest number of claims to the City of Montreal in the last 20 years. . The City rejected all claims, saying the downpours were of exceptional intensity.
After torrential rains on May 29, 2012 (70 millimeters in 30 minutes), the City of Montreal received 3,717 complaints, but had not paid compensation to anyone either. Around a hundred owners took the City to court.
The Rue Sponge project includes the installation of a water pipe under Parc des Royals, which adjoins Rue Larivière, to direct heavy rains from the top of the hill to the retention basins below.
The cost of the work is estimated at 5.9 million, including the repair of the skateboard park and the dog area of the neighboring park.
Citizens in the area will also be consulted on the amenities to be added to the project, which should have a cultural connotation.