Repair work on the two overpasses over the Ville-Marie highway, those on boulevard Saint-Laurent and rue Saint-Urbain, will begin in less than two weeks, which should cause several obstacles in the area.
This was announced by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD), at the beginning of the week, without fanfare. Officially, the repair of the overpasses must be launched on February 12, to be staggered until the fall of 2026.
From November, The Press had reported the holding of this work, which will cause several obstacles. To “limit the impact on traffic”, Quebec also plans not to close the two overpasses simultaneously. Access to shops and other buildings will also be maintained throughout the duration of the work.
These will nevertheless require “long-term closures on Route 136”, maintains the Ministry. “Generally, two lanes will be open on Route 136 in both directions. Complete night or weekend closures of Route 136 will however be required for certain operations related to the construction site.
An idea of the obstacles
Everything will be done in three stages. First, as of February 12 from 10 p.m., two lanes will be closed on Route 136 westbound: one between Panet and Saint-Urbain streets, including the Viger tunnel, and another between Saint-Denis streets and Saint-Urbain.
Then, on February 13 at 10 p.m., two lanes will be closed on Route 136 eastbound, between exit 4 towards the Victoria Bridge and the Saint-Laurent Boulevard sector, including the Ville-Marie tunnel, and between the entrance of boulevard Robert-Bourassa and this same sector of boulevard Saint-Laurent.
Finally, on February 14 at 10 p.m., the Saint-Laurent Boulevard overpass will be closed, between Viger Avenue and Saint-Antoine Street. Detours will then be put in place for motorists, rue Saint-Urbain southbound, and rue Saint-Hubert northbound. On the same day, the left lane will be closed on Viger Avenue, at Saint-Laurent Boulevard.
It is not until work on the Saint-Laurent Boulevard overpass is completed, in the summer of 2024, that work on the Saint-Urbain Street overpass will begin. This second phase of construction should be launched in the summer of 2024, and end in the fall of 2026.
The work essentially consists of replacing the decks of the two bridges, including its girders, and repairing its abutments and piers. The mechanical systems, the walls of the Viger and Ville-Marie tunnels, the retaining walls and the roadway will also be rebuilt. The project is valued at $2 billion. A public information session is scheduled for February 7, virtually, to present the project to the population. To register, you must go directly to the MTMD web page.
Note: another major project is looming on the horizon in the heart of Montreal. Quebec will completely renovate the elevated structures of the Metropolitan Autoroute, over a distance of 11.4 kilometres, a project valued at “a few billion”. The consortium selected to renovate the eastern part of the Metropolitan must submit its plans and specifications to the MTMD in 2023, at an undetermined date.