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Cyclists angry as Montreal announces closure of Circuit Gilles Villeneuve

WATCH: Montrealers are signing a petition against the closure of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this summer. As Global's Billy Shields reports, some city councillors are calling the decision “poorly coordinated and badly planned.” – Apr 24, 2017

The City of Montreal has announced the closure of Circuit Gilles Villenueve to cyclists for four months starting May 8, leading angry opponents to submit a petition to keep it open.

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Mayor Denis Coderre said at city council Monday that the closure was due to safety concerns.

The construction work includes a 65,000-seat amphitheatre, but cyclists like David Tibbets say it is displacing them for the benefit of Evenko, the company hosting the events.

“We’re all taxpayers and we would like a level of respect for our contributions,” he told Global News.

Construction on Île Sainte-Hélène has forced events that are normally held there to move to neighbouring Île Notre-Dame.

“The execution’s been terrible, with poor planning and poor communication,” city councillor Alain Vaillancourt told Global News.

The circuit is scheduled to reopen to recreational traffic on Sept. 4.

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