A part of western Pierrefonds, near Antoine-Faucon Street, is a densely, populated area — and it’s still growing.
For those who live nearby, there is only one way in and one way out.
The provincial and municipal governments announced on Tuesday afternoon a new road would be built to connect Pierrefonds to neighbouring Kirkland and the highway.
READ MORE: Green access road set for future Kirkland REM station
The road would run between Antoine-Faucon right through to the future Kirkland light-rail station and Highway 40.
There will be a reserved bus lane, bike path and room for pedestrians — but no cars allowed.
“I applaud the thought that goes into these things, however the solution that she proposes would probably work better in a more dense environment, where there are already solutions, of public transportation and all that,” said West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce President (WIMCC), Joseph Huza.
READ MORE: ‘It’s a necessity’: West Island mayors say urban boulevard needed now more than ever
The new access route is meant to force commuters to leave their cars at home and take the bus.
“That’s just no — it’s useless,” said Pierrefonds resident Claudio Dilella.
The WIMCC and the residents Global News spoke to say the plan just doesn’t suit their lifestyle.
“Why build a road if you’re not going to put cars on it?” said Pierrefonds resident John Rancourt.
“What are you going to put on it?”
READ MORE: Montreal’s $6-billion light rail transit project has Kirkland property owners on edge
Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough Mayor Jim Beis says what’s worse is that neither he — nor borough residents — were consulted about the plan.
“The shocking part of what I see today is that this affects my community,” said Beis.
“It affects the 70,000 residents that I represent and we were never included in any of the deliberations or any of the discussions for that matter.”
The city says the $10-million green road should be up and running by 2023.
Comments