Councillors propose solutions for Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue overpass

WATCH: Ste. Anne de Bellevue overpass concerns

STE-ANNE-DE-BELLEVUE – Residents of the West Island town of Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue may finally get relief from their three-year traffic nightmare.

At an information meeting Monday night, city officials explained the options available for the Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue overpass.

Access to the overpass has been cut off for the past three years.

The structure will either have to be repaired or torn down and turned into a T-intersection. Both options will cost local taxpayers.

Mayor Paola Hawa had hoped negotiations with Quebec’s Transport Ministry would make the project more affordable.

According to Hawa, if the overpass was repaired, the town will be left with a  $2.6 million debt. If it’s torn down and turned into a T-intersection, the amount would be $2.7 million.

The province has promised $1.3 million in funds if the town opts for the T-intersection, which still leaves $1.4 million for Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue residents to pay.

This is the town’s entire discretionary budget.

After years of waiting for a better deal, Hawa said the town can’t afford to wait any longer.

“At this point in time, we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place, being a little city,” she explained.

In order to help with traffic in the area, the town is also proposing a temporary road, which will allow drivers access to the Anciens-Commbattants exit from Highway 40.

It would take eight weeks to build and would be in place for a year.

The permanent overpass project is expected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Council is expected to vote on the two options at the next council meeting set for Monday, June 9.