Van Horne overpass to be demolished
The Van Horne overpass is to be demolished by 2030. Earlier this month, 24Hres wrote an elegiac history of the structure, but so far, nobody seems to know what – if anything – would replace it.
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EmilyG 21:12 on 2025-09-16 Permalink
I used to live near there, and I’d go walking in that area, including walking up the bridge. I like looking out at the city from that viewpoint. I like the general area there. I think I’d miss the overpass if it went away, but maybe I’m being sentimental.
CE 21:35 on 2025-09-16 Permalink
I always hoped it would someday be turned into a sort of High Line linear park that would connect the two neighbourhoods. The view is very nice up there, especially at sunset.
DeWolf 00:29 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
I hope it’s replaced with another elevated structure, but one that includes a lot of public space from which to enjoy the view.
Not replacing it with anything would be a real blow to connectivity in the area, given the CPR’s intransigence in allowing more level crossings. The viaduct also creates some interesting spaces underneath and this could be taken even further with a better design.
Ian 09:46 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
Goodbye skate park, free punk shows, sheltered area in no-name park, best sunset views in the neighbourhood…
DeWolf 11:09 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
Why do you think the skate park would be demolished, Ian? The city spent a lot of money developing it in collaboration with the Montreal Skateboard Association. It’s one of the largest skate parks in Quebec.
Orr 12:50 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
@dewolf You can walk up the stairs right beside boulevard St-Laurent and the skatepark and enjoy the excellent view.
This lookout needs a big sign “Belvédère Van Horne”.
DeWolf 14:04 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
Yes, I know, but it’s not exactly a place to linger. It’s a narrow sidewalk next to traffic going 20-30 over the speed limit.
Let’s not forget the viaduct isn’t being demolished for fun. It was already renovated in 2019 to extend its life by 10 years, which was a stay of execution after the Coderre administration initially drafted plans to replace it in 2018. It’s not a question of whether or not it should be demolished, it’s a question of what will replace it.
Joey 14:11 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
The viaduct is a major connector between downtown and Rosemont/Petite-Patrie and beyond. It’s surprising that, with 2030 only about four years away, there’s not even a vague idea of what will replace it.
I can’t imagine level crossings will be a thing – obviously the railway doesn’t care at all about its impact on daily life. That said, I’m always skeptical of the benefit of level crossings. Don’t the cargo trains that run there often move very slowly?
Ian 16:39 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
The one at Wilderton and Jean Talon is notorious. If there’s a train there it’s almost always faster to go all the way over to CDN & JT where there’s an underpass.
@DeEWolf I hope they try to keep the skate park but that is a BIG structure. I have my doubts. Considering that digging a hole in the sidewalk on the east side of Parc by the new Maxi “requires” shutting down half the street with cones and barriers, I can’t imaginew how they intend to take down an entire elevated roadway without damaging stuff directly beneath it. Then again they will have to somehow not affect rail traffic, so who knows what the plan is. Oh wait, there isn’t one.
Anton 19:10 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
Well, from an urbanism perspective, perhaps the ideal thing would be to elevate the railway by 2-3m (on an embankment) and restore the street grid below it. If the railway is above ground level, any street or walkway passing through it doesn’t require ridiculously long ramps before and after like today, so the impact of it on the street grid, street level experience and urban fabric should be much reduced.
GC 19:36 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
I hope they keep the skate park, even if I’m likely never going to use it myself. Also, the great new basketball courts right beside it. Those I might actually use one day. But, they are always packed, regardless.
I suppose there are already ways to walk or drive _under_ the tracks, at various places. Like Joey, I can’t believe they don’t have a plan for only five years out…
Ian 20:37 on 2025-09-17 Permalink
@Anton I think you misunderstand, nobody is ever allowed to touch the railway, except the railway.
To be serious though I think the main issue in what you describe is that this line is used for various purposes but especially heavy transport, including double-stack intermodal. A deeper bed is needed not just to support the train itself but to distribute the impact of its travel.
MarcG 07:30 on 2025-09-18 Permalink
Whatever is done, I hope they incorporate a way for pedestrians to cross the tracks safely at the east end, but I wouldn’t hold my breath since a similar connection between NDG and St-Henri was dropped from the Turcot rebuild despite fairly heavy public pressure.
DeWolf 15:52 on 2025-09-18 Permalink
@MarcG, are you talking about the east end of Mile End? The city wanted to build a level crossing at Henri-Julien (next to the Champ des possibles) but the CPR fought it. The Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that the city could only build an underpass or overpass at that location, which would be all but impossible without destroying a lot of green space.
MarcG 15:55 on 2025-09-18 Permalink
Yeah that’s the spot.