Tunnel work: limit on solo drivers?
Premier Legault is said to be pondering a ban on solo drivers at rush hour in the constricted Lafontaine tunnel, and the mayor is also considering all options.
The recycling service is asking for patience, as it may take longer to move materials off-island.
Faiz 12:46 on 2022-10-27 Permalink
I’m responsible for over a 100 trucks à day circulating in the Montreal area from Boucherville, and let me tell you these are interesting times…
Lots of contingency plans and talk, but for the most part the hope is to keep running as normal next week and hope things are not too terrible.
But in terms of staff it’s basically covid 2.0. Anyone white collar is back at home. Though if you’re a warehouse worker sucks to be you.
The plans RTL and stm have made are admirable, but in talking with people here too many are just too addicted to their cars to consider it.
On the other hand, a LOT of employees around me live in other suburbs, Laval, PAT, even Blainville. Transit isn’t going to help them much.
Azrhey 13:15 on 2022-10-27 Permalink
Question … has there ever been talk of a bridge further east, at the tip of the island or further east ? Like join the 640 with the 132 or the 30 ?
I don’t see with people in ST Jerome need to get on the island to get to St Hyacinthe ?
Seems I nerves heard of it not even in Crazy ideas forums?
Or am I missing something that would prevent that?
dhomas 14:32 on 2022-10-27 Permalink
I’ve mentioned it before on another thread that the Autoroute 30 only really functions as a “ring road” if you’re coming from the west/Ontario. Coming from the west, you can bypass Montreal and stay on the South Shore via the 30. No real way to avoid the island if your final destination is on the North Shore, though.
Coming from the East (say Joliette), you can bypass Montreal (and Laval) on the north side via the 640, but to continue westward, you’ll still need to get on the island via the 13 down to the 40 West. If your final destination is the South Shore, then you have no choice but to get on the island via the 40 and go down the 25 South to the South Shore.
There should be a proper ring road (toll bridges, too) around the island so people aren’t just passing through unnecessarily. This would require a bridge from somewhere around Repentigny or possibly a little further around Sorel-Tracy to the area south of the St-Lawrence. It would also require a bridge around Oka and the extension of the 640 to that bridge. All in all a pretty expensive endeavour. It’s also not very likely as the 30 is seen mostly as a means to reduce traffic on the 132, which apparently isn’t high enough beyond Sorel-Tracy to justify the cost.
DeWolf 19:34 on 2022-10-27 Permalink
There’s also the problem of induced demand. The 30 was clear for a few years and now it’s congested, and the 132 is just as congested as before.
Ian 18:43 on 2022-10-28 Permalink
Yes of course, despite our best efforts to stay isolated despite being on an island, there are many cars and trucks going back and forth every day. As any urban planning undergrad can tell you, roads lead to cars. To reduce personal vehicle usage, we should shut down all the ingress and egress to the city, obviously.
/s
DeWolf 09:41 on 2022-10-29 Permalink
What’s the point of your reply, Ian?
An eastern toll bridge would be a good idea to give North Shore trucks and commuters an alternative to passing through the island. But it would need to be accompanied by strict land use policies to prevent even more suburban sprawl in places like Varennes. Unless somebody here thinks it’s a good idea to pave over forests and farmland for single-family houses.
We also need a regional transit system that isn’t garbage.