Traffic jams, small parking, cones and posters blocking access to businesses, work on Boulevard Henri-Bourassa aimed at creating dedicated lanes for bicycles and buses are making life difficult for merchants in the metropolitan area from Ahuntsic-Cartierville to Montreal.
From Avenue Marcellin-Wilson to Rue Lajeunesse at Boulevard Henri-Pourassa, there are now more orange cones than cars. In some places there is only one lane in each direction. One of the other observations made during our visit: even in summer the journey is difficult. Many fear a return to normal traffic at the start of the school year, as work that began a month ago won’t be completed until the fall, according to the borough.
Many merchants on Boulevard Henri-Bourassa say they have seen their turnover drop since work began to create dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles. Access to Pizza Roni Pizzeria is difficult, if not impossible, says owner Aref Delisle. August 6, 2024. Marie-Laurence Delaney/Agence QMI
Marie-Laurence Delaney/QMI Agency
“We don’t have customers, we don’t have jobs,” says Aref Delisle of Pizza Roni. He says he has lost more than 60% of turnover since starting work in June. Like many businesses, its pizzeria is located in the heart of a construction site. “We can’t go in even with cattle. We don’t have parking. Access is barred everywhere,” he said.
Work on the creation of dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles in Henri-Pourassa between avenue Marcellin-Wilson and rue Lajeunesse has begun since the beginning of summer and will be completed by autumn, according to the borough. August 6, 2024. Marie-Laurence Delaney/Agence QMI
Marie-Laurence Delaney/QMI Agency
The “sustainable mobility corridor” project in Henri-Pourassa aims to replace two of the four lanes in each direction with one lane reserved for buses (rapid bus service) and one lane for bicycles (express bike network). Approximately 200 parking spaces are also condemned and will remain so after the work is completed.
At the palace of slippers and pizzas on the corner of Clark Street, customers will now be four times less.
Many merchants on Boulevard Henri-Bourassa say they have seen their turnover drop since work began to create dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles. According to Jennifer Faddoul, daughter of the owner of Palais des chaussons et pizzas, there are four times fewer customers. August 6, 2024. Marie-Laurence Delaney/Agence QMI
Marie-Laurence Delaney/QMI Agency
“We’ve been on the boulevard for over 30 years, it’s our only livelihood, it’s a dream to see it every day, we’ve gone from 20-25 customers an hour to 5. They’re doing three times to find parking.” laments Jennifer Fadol, the owner’s daughter.
The work carried out on the two kilometer section represents only one phase of the project. Eventually, Henri-Bourassa Boulevard will be built this way from Highway 40 to Lacordaire Boulevard and all should be completed by 2027.
Work on the creation of dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles in Henri-Pourassa between avenue Marcellin-Wilson and rue Lajeunesse has begun since the beginning of summer and will be completed by autumn, according to the borough. August 6, 2024. Marie-Laurence Delaney/Agence QMI
The mayor of Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Émilie Thuillier, says the project will attract new customers. “We are adding activities on Boulevard Henri-Bourassa so that eventually there will be more people. […]. “Henry-Pourassa doesn’t have a lot of parking traffic, and 100% of these cars can be transferred to vertical streets,” he says. According to his team, only half of the available spaces in Henri-Pourassa are occupied.
Business owners on Henri-Bourassa Boulevard are denouncing the impacts of work aimed at creating dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles between Marcelin-Wilson Avenue and Lajeunesse Street. André Savoie, owner of Chalaison St-Andre butcher shop, said the project would include off-peak parking. August 6, 2024. Marie-Laurence Delaney/Agence QMI
Marie-Laurence Delaney/QMI Agency
The owner of the Salaison St-André butcher shop, André Savoie, agrees that the idea is not bad, but that it should include parking outside peak hours.
“My father and my grandfather in ’64 were never foolish enough to think that one day they wouldn’t be allowed to park,” he explains. There will always be a clientele of elderly, vulnerable people […] They can’t bike to pick up their 30-pound turkey and 25-pound ham at Easter.
Residents are also unhappy
The area resident, who cannot be named because he is an employee of the City of Montreal, is critical of the way the project is being implemented. “It’s a traffic jam, it’s still intense and nobody’s there [l’été]. When the weather is nice, I take my bike. I have boys who play elite sports and I can’t carry my boy with his bag, his leg warmers, on my back.[…]There are some things you can’t do on a bike.
The resident of rue Bois-de-Boulogne, who has undergone multiple ankle surgeries and is unable to cycle or walk long distances, fears a return to normal traffic in the autumn as he has no choice but to take his car. “It’s negative because it will create more congestion. It’s meant to bring [mon garçon à l’école en transport en commun, c’est environ 45 minutes en changeant trois lignes d’autobus […] I don’t even have public transport to get to my job,” he laments.
