Turcot Interchange
The Turcot Interchange is a freeway interchange within the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that links Autoroutes 15, 20, and 720. It takes its name from the currently-abandoned Turcot rail yards over which it is built.
At this stack interchange west of downtown, the Ville-Marie Expressway, the Décarie Expressway, the Champlain Bridge, and Autoroute 20 all come together.
History
The interchange was projected as part of the first Montreal highway in 1958 and planned to bind it to the Decarie freeway, also designed at the same time. Construction started in October 1965 and Turcot was built in time for the 1967 Montreal Expo, along with other big projects such as the Montreal Metro.
Upon its erection, an old railroad yard belonging to the Grand Trunk Company (today merged into Canadian National) served as location for the interchange and was 1/4 shortened, which required the demolition of a roundhouse. In 1969, upon reviewing the situation, city authorities have concluded that the project abused of unnecessary space and could have coexisted perfectly alongside the buildings that were otherwise demolished (including some 20 residences).
When originally constructed the interchange was built high above the ground as a dramatic demonstration of Montreal's status as a modern global metropolis and to accommodate ships passing through the Lachine Canal.
In 2000, more than 300,000 vehicles used the interchange on a daily basis, a number that was not expected within its original design (which was planned for 50-60,000 vehicles maximum).
Reconstruction plans
In June 2007, the Quebec government announced the demolition and reconstruction of the structure, projected to be complete in 2016. The announcement came four years after a study on the interchange showed the Turcot structure was crumbling, with reports of concrete slabs up to one square metre falling from the overpasses.[1] In addition to a new interchange built lower to the ground, a large segment of Autoroute 20 would be rebuilt more to the north. Reconstruction of the interchange is expected to cost between $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion.[2]
Controversy
Around the time of its announcement, the project created controversy as to how Turcot should be rebuilt. Local residents and community groups have come out against the project as proposed by the government, claiming that it will worsen pollution, increase automobile traffic downtown, and require the demolition of housing including a significant portion of the Village des Tanneries neighborhood.[3][4]
The project's environmental hearings ended June 19, 2009.[5] They revealed new plans for the area by CN,[6] as well as strong public desire to protect existing communities, rethink the modal balance of Montreal's urban transportation, and plan realistically for a future of energy shortages and environmental crisis.
The project itself is currently frozen in the pre-production phase. After conducting several environmental and technical impact researches by MDDEP in early Summer of 2009, construction plans have been furthermore halted because of the 2009 financial crisis, which led Transports Québec to delay the project at least until September 2010, without further notice.
Second project
In April 2010, the city of Montreal has gathered all previous commentary reviewed by BAPE and announced a different reconstruction project, in which the railroad tracks and the main body of the A-20 are kept at their original location, the height of the interchange is basically maintained (but replaced with better-lasting materials), while the former Turcot yards serve as ground for a new urban redevelopment district with its own communitarian aspect. The cost of such proposition was set to at least $5 billion CAD, which is at least three times that of the original.
"If this project is to replace the original", stated the minister of Transports Quebec, Julie Boulet, "we can expect at least two more years of stalling", suggesting that Turcot should not be seen as a sandbox for any kind of proposals coming from all levels of the government. According to the Gerald Tremblay, the mayor of Montreal, this is exactly the time necessary to prepare for the works, which are now have been postponed into the 1st quarter of 2012.
See also
References
- ^ "Concrete crumbling onto highway: report". CBC News. 2003-05-16. Retrieved 2007-03-14.
- ^ "Reconstruction du complexe Turcot, à Montréal" (in French). Transports Québec. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
- ^ "TURCOT: A disaster in the making". Turcot Mobilization. Retrieved 2008-08-25.
- ^ Johnston, David (2008-09-26). "Saving Cazelais St". Montreal Gazette. Canwest. Retrieved 2008-09-29.
- ^ Prince, Jason (2009-10-21). "Bape Hearings". turcot.ca. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
- ^ Carruthers, Alex (2009-06-27). Announces New Rail Line/ "Bape Hearings". turcot.ca. Retrieved 2010-01-20.
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45°28′04″N 73°35′58″W / 45.467776°N 73.599472°W
