roadwork redo case no. 5: new sidewalks stand in the way of maurice-duplessis revamp
4 minute read
from 2022 to 2023, the city reconstructed a deteriorated culvert that allows the de montigny creek to pass under maurice-duplessis blvd.
pierre obendrauf
/
montreal gazette
montrealers who think the city does construction work over and over on the same streets: it’s not your imagination.
the gazette has reviewed a handful of recent roadwork projects to understand how and why this phenomenon occurs. here is case no. 5.
location:
maurice-duplessis blvd., rivière-des-prairies—pointe-aux-trembles borough, montreal north
the issue:
from 2022 to 2023, the city reconstructed a deteriorated culvert that allows the de montigny creek to pass under maurice-duplessis blvd. the city had planned to redevelop the surface of the boulevard as well, but postponed that part of the project. the work on the culvert included the reconstruction of the sidewalks, the road and the central median of maurice-duplessis around the culvert. the sidewalks were widened and benches installed.
in 2025, the city launched its redevelopment of maurice-duplessis, between langelier and louis h. la fontaine blvds., which includes the reconstruction of the roadway, complete reconstruction of the sidewalks with a new geometry and construction of bike paths on the north and south sides of maurice-duplessis. the recently built sidewalks above the creek are in the trajectory of the new bike paths, so some of what was built two years ago will be ripped up.
orange cones are part of the scenery at the new lookout at ruisseau-de montigny nature park as construction work continues on maurice-duplessis blvd.
pierre obendrauf
/
montreal gazette
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the city’s explanation:
the maurice-duplessis redevelopment was initially planned to be carried out in a single, integrated phase, city spokesperson hugo bourgoin said. however, when the quebec government announced it would build an elementary school and a high school at maurice-duplessis and albert-hudon blvd., near cegep marie-victorin, it caused the city to rethink its design for maurice-duplessis, he said.
construction of the elementary school was launched in early 2022, at the same time that it was publicly announced. the high school was publicly announced in september 2021.
the culvert reconstruction was deemed a priority due to its advanced deterioration, and that project went ahead in 2022. but the government’s plan to build schools “led to a postponement of the redevelopment component, as the arrival of the schools would significantly alter the traffic flow in this industrial area,” bourgoin said.
“it therefore became essential to review the nature of the project to ensure greater safety for students and vulnerable users.”
the city “went back to the drawing board” with the maurice-duplessis redevelopment, and the project started this year includes removal of one traffic lane in each direction on maurice-duplessis to install protected one-way bike paths in each direction, widening sidewalks and greening.
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however, the city didn’t answer what has changed from its original redevelopment plan for maurice-duplessis.
“that being said, our desire is, of course, to preserve as many recently built elements as possible,” bourgoin said, referring to the 2022-23 work.
“the south sidewalk, recently built at the culvert, is planned to be preserved as is, as are the central median and street furniture.”
the north sidewalk “must be slightly modified, as the main access to the ruisseau-de montigny nature park, which is a major traffic generator, is on this side,” bourgoin said. the objective is to ensure that pedestrian and bicycle paths into the park “are improved and made safer, particularly for future schoolchildren who are likely to use it frequently.”
a construction site on maurice-duplessis blvd. near the lookout of the ruisseau-de montigny nature park on oct. 8, 2025.
pierre obendrauf
/
montreal gazette
what the critics say:
“tearing up a sidewalk or any work completed by the city in such a short period of time is absurd and unacceptable,” said gisella gesuale, president of the union representing montreal’s engineers, the association des scientifiques et ingénieurs de montréal.
“it’s yet another example of poor planning and departments working in silos.”
the city would have known about the province’s plans to build the schools ahead of the public announcements, she added.
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“often decisions are driven by political agendas instead of expert analysis and long-term thinking,” gesuale said. “projects are launched without a full assessment, without co-ordination and without listening to the city’s own experts. the engineers flag these issues, but their warnings are ignored and taxpayers pay the price. the result? wasted money, wasted time and growing frustration for everyone.”
the details:
in 2022, the city awarded a $7.5-million contract to les entreprises michaudville inc. for the reconstruction of the culvert. the steel arched structure, built in 1965, showed signs of moderate to very severe corrosion during its last inspection in 2017. besides the reconstruction and the rebuilding of the sidewalks, median and roadway, the work also included replacing water and sewer pipes under the culvert, creating a wildlife crossing in the nature park below and reforestation.
the city awarded a contract in 2025 to duroking construction for $34.1 million. the contract covers the maurice-duplessis redevelopment and redevelopment of albert-hudon, between maurice-duplessis and léger blvd. the city had recently barred duroking from getting municipal contracts for two years because of its poor performance on a previous contract. the city said it had no choice but to award the maurice-duplessis contract because the call for tenders took place before the company was placed on the city’s list of barred firms.
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work is to carry on until the fall of 2027.
the upshot:
the city is back with cones on maurice-duplessis and tearing up part of the work that was done in 2022.
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