Cyclists, pedestrians welcome revamp of deadly N.D.G. intersection

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A cycling and pedestrian group is welcoming the changes being proposed to the road network on a 500-metre stretch of de Maisonneuve Blvd. in the Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce borough.

The changes were presented to the public Tuesday evening during an online information session. The borough contends that this is one of the most dangerous and complicated sections of road in the city; two pedestrians have been fatally struck and hundreds of collisions have occurred since the last major redesign of the roadway in 2015, just before the opening of the nearby MUHC superhospital.

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The road configuration was meant to be temporary, but the borough had to wait until the completion of the Turcot Interchange redesign in order to take action.

The proposed redesign would make lanes wider for cyclists and eliminate one of three lanes for cars. It allows for two temporary parking areas for buses and cars in front of the Vendôme intermodal métro and train station.

The most drastic change in the plan is to bar all cars on de Maisonneuve Blvd. between Décarie Blvd. and Prud’homme Ave. That would turn the current five-corner intersection into a four-corner intersection. A redesigned de Maisonneuve Blvd. would be one-way only for cars between Prud’homme and Addington St., which would bar left turns off the exit from the Décarie Expressway to de Maisonneuve.

“I’m liking it,” said Jason Savard, a spokesperson for the Association of Pedestrians and Cyclists of N.D.G. “The fewer points for cars to turn at that intersection, the safer it will be for all (road users).”

Savard said his association has already suggested the borough close access to that part of de Maisonneuve to cars, but he’s concerned about the traffic-light sequence since it is currently confusing for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

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“The safety issues aren’t specifically cycling-centric — it’s more for pedestrians, and anything to improve safety I think will be welcome,” he said.

In justifying the proposal, borough mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa said fewer cars use the stretch of de Maisonneuve between the expressway and Décarie Blvd. than traffic planners first thought. Savard says he believes most who do use that stretch are people who don’t live in the borough.

“There is another exit at Sherbrooke, so there’s a bit of a doubling of exits there. I don’t think you will get much pushback for that,” Savard said.

At de Maisonneuve and Décarie on Wednesday, cyclists and pedestrians approached by a reporter agreed the intersection is dangerous, though many said the addition of priority lights for cyclists and pedestrians in 2020 improved safety significantly.

“It’s safer than it used to be, but it’s definitely still scary and unsafe,” said Alina Levtova, who walks in the area often with her children. “There are cars coming from all over the place, and pedestrian lights aren’t on long enough for people to cross.”

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Sarah Cohen, another area resident, agreed.

“It’s a pain in the ass,” Cohen said. “The crossing at the highway is really dangerous, and it’s a really long wait at the intersection. My boyfriend lives around here, too, and he’s also very frustrated.”

Cohen said the entire area is confusing for motorists and cyclists, and she believes the plan to cut access to de Maisonneuve could simplify matters.

At least one motorist, however, did not agree with that idea.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Jason Primak, a St-Henri resident. “We have all these bike lanes everywhere, and all the other roads are going to be congested instead. I think it’s a terrible idea.”

Reached Wednesday, the MUHC issued a written statement saying it supports the new plan.

“The MUHC has been involved in discussions with the Ville de Montréal since 2022 and has worked with them to mitigate the negative impacts of the street configuration near the Glen site,” spokesperson Annie-Claire Fournier wrote. “The current plan suits us, and we are confident that it will be implemented with a minor impact on our business.”

jmagder@postmedia.com

x.com/jasonmagder

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