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The city of Montreal no longer plans to build a road through a green space in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
In an announcement Thursday, the city said it will cancel plans to extend Assomption Blvd. toward Notre-Dame St. E., which would have required part of the Boisé Steinberg to be razed.
The city also said it will purchase an abandoned area that is part of a property owned by CN rail, and use it to link the Boisé Steinberg with the nearby Boisé Vimont. City councillor Sophie Mauzerolle said this will provide citizens of the area with a form of barrier between the residential sector and the industrial area. Thursday’s announcement came after citizens were consulted on the plan over the last few months.
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The plan, which had been in the works since 2013, was to close Dickson St., to make it easier for trucks from the Port of Montreal to access Highway 25 via Souligny Ave. Truck traffic is currently problematic, as trucks try to avoid traffic on Notre-Dame to reach the highway, so it was hoped the project will keep trucks on the main arterial network and off local streets.
Now, only bike paths and walking trails will be built in the area, in order to allow for a diversity of users to enjoy it.
The city said it will still study the Assomption-Souligny project in hopes of coming up with ways to limit truck noise and traffic in the residential sector.
The land purchase comes as the city announced it has settled its $343 million lawsuit with Ray-Mont Logistics, a container yard that set up in the area. The city will pay the company $17 million as a result of the settlement. The company had charged the city unduly delayed the project, which respected the area’s zoning.
Reacting to the announcement, Mauzerolle said she was proud of the decision.
“We always made preserving green space a priority, particularly in the eastern sector of the city where industrial activity accentuates the needs. By preserving these wooded areas, residents of the area can benefit from a green environment for generations to come.”
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