The Blame Game

Flustered West Island drivers who have been dealing with congestion both near the Sources and St. John's Boulevards near their entrances to the 20 may be resting a little easier now that work on Sources is nearly at an end, but there is no clear answer as to who blocked the two areas almost simultaneously. "These two projects were not scheduled together," said Sylvie Laflamme, spokesperson for the Montreal agglomeration council, which is in charge of arterial roads infrastructure on the island. "However, due to difficulties with the weather and contractors, we had to reschedule everything."

However, she added boroughs and cities which encompass sections of those arterial roads in question must sign permits allowing Montreal to carry out its work.

Pointe Claire Mayor Bill McMurchie, whose city encompasses the two sections of road in question, said responsibility for when to take care of the boulevard lies on Montreal agglomeration's shoulders.

The two project sections run parallel to each other coming off of the 20, and have created extra congestion for commuters for the last few weeks. The work on Sources Boulevard is strictly for renovation work, but on St. John's, a new left turn on Holiday Street is expected.

Originally, the work on St. John's Boulevard was expected to be finished by the end of July, according to a Montreal press release from the beginning of that month.

Work on Sources Boulevard was to be finished by last weekend, a public works agent told The Chronicle on conditions of anonymity. "It should all be finished between Friday and Saturday," he said. "It is a lot of work," he added.

On Monday at noon, however, most of the work on Sources between Reverchon and Avro streets appeared to be done, but construction cones still blocked off two of the left lanes southbound.