Albert Kramberger
special to THE GAZETTE
With indications from Montreal and Transport Quebec officials to the contrary, Kirkland council fired off another resolution demanding a new Highway 40 overpass be built as part of a north-south urban boulevard extension link to western Pierrefonds.
On Monday, Kirkland tabled a resolution reiterating that unless a Highway 40 overpass is built in conjunction with the boulevard, it would vehemently oppose an urban boulevard extension through the Highway 440 servitude to Gouin Blvd. in western Pierrefonds.
“We are explaining why we are against any proposal that would have a four-way intersection at the bottom of the urban boulevard at Highway 40,” said Kirkland Mayor Michel Gibson.
After receiving a followup letter after from face-to-face meetings regarding a potential project, Kirkland was informed Transport Quebec envisions relying on the nearby Ste-Marie-Highway 40 overpasses to carry traffic stemming from the new urban boulevard. Gibson said that under such a scenario, there would be a four-way intersection along the highway service road and the new urban boulevard which, he said would, create a traffic boondoggle.
“The four-way intersection will be clogged all the time, and we are not resolving any problem. We are creating a new problem,” he added. “We’re saying don’t force this urban boulevard without having any respect for the residents in Kirkland.”
Gibson said while Transport Quebec officials point to a 2013 study indicating traffic shifting from St-Charles Blvd. to the new urban boulevard won’t be a major factor, he said another engineering study from 2011 had concluded the opposite.
“The 2011 study clearly states there is a dilemma if we don’t build an overpass,” he said.
In the 2013 study, it is noted Transport Quebec extended the lifespan of the Ste-Marie-Highway 40 overpasses to 2023 after carrying out extensive repairs about six years ago.
Gibson, however, said a timeline for the urban boulevard to be built hasn’t yet been provided.
Just over two years ago, the previous Liberal government, led by Jean Charest, promised to fund a Highway 40 overpass in Kirkland as part of a Montreal agglomeration urban boulevard extension through the Highway 440 corridor to Gouin Blvd. in Pierrefonds. This plan was shelved when a minority Parti Québécois government was elected later that fall.
After a majority Liberal government was elected under Premier Philippe Couillard last year, local municipal officials hoped the 440 urban boulevard project would be back on the provincial agenda.
While a Highway 440 extension is a mute issue, Pierrefonds municipal officials have spent a decade calling for Transport Quebec to use part of the 440 servitude for a boulevard to alleviate traffic congestion, particularly at the St-Charles-Highway 40 interchange.