More resistance to Hydro’s plan
A Village residents’ association has added its voice to the opposition to the Hydro‑Québec plan to build a new substation on the north end of the Grande Bibliothèque block. But they make an alternative suggestion which is even less appealing: block off Berri below Sherbrooke and build it directly on what’s now the roadway.
Nicholas 17:01 on 2025-03-03 Permalink
That’s honestly a great idea if it works! That whole structure is a concrete hellscape (it even got a call out in the Not Just Bikes video of Montreal), so this wouldn’t change much. There’s only one bus that goes down there, the infrequent 30 that parallels the orange line, and there actually isn’t that much other traffic on there, and other traffic could use the original hill road abutting the buildings. As long as there’s space or a plan for bike traffic, and as long as it is technically feasible (you probably can’t dig much because the metro is under the roadway, so you may not be able to lay pilings, and this equipment is heavy), this seems like a great idea!
CE 17:15 on 2025-03-03 Permalink
I feel like this is a pretty decent proposal. This little section of proto-highway is completely underused and unnecessary (not to mention ugly and hostile to pedestrians). I really don’t see any difference between the four-lane section of Berri ending at Ontario or Cherrier. With the section below the overpass removed, something nice could be done to the section north of Sherbrooke. Also, I can imagine it would make the connection between the two substations much easier as they wouldn’t be separated by Ontario street.
Orr 17:54 on 2025-03-03 Permalink
Roadway *AND* critical link between upper and lower Montreal for active transport.
In non-winter seasons, 5000 people per day ride their bicycles on the Berri street bike path.
Over 7000 people on busy days.
walkerp 10:33 on 2025-03-04 Permalink
It’s also a great route for protests. But you could build something there and put in even nicer bike paths.
Nicholas 12:36 on 2025-03-04 Permalink
Yes, that bike connection is crucial, much more than the car connection. But you only need a thin path or tunnel for the bike route, low height too. It would be so much quieter without the cars, and they could add some art, like the bike and pedestrian tunnel under Amsterdam’s Central Station did. That leaves four car lanes plus a median for the building, plus overhead if needed. Still, we’re going to need a civil engineer saying those loads above the metro are ok, but if so I’m liking this more and more.
dhomas 15:08 on 2025-03-04 Permalink
Once the new substation is built, will they tear down the old one? If so, couldn’t they curve the roadway too where the current substation is?
Ian 18:46 on 2025-03-04 Permalink
@walkerp ah yeah with that angle it’s always the money shot for a good protest. That said, protests won’t stop just because they fill in the ditch.