Spring start for Circle project

At a press conference this morning that largely rehashed information announced in November, government officials reconfirmed a spring 2009 start date, a 2013 completion date and a $224 million price tag for the Dorval Circle renovation project, which would link up Highways 20 and 520 to Pierre-Elliot Trudeau International Airport.

"All the levels of financing are now well-identified," said Marquette Liberal MNA François Ouimet, adding about $89 million will be forthcoming from the provincial government, $75 million from the federal government, $40 million from Montreal, and $20 million from Aéroports de Montréal.

First announced in 1997, the project has been subject to a series of delays, exasperating drivers all too familiar with being stuck in traffic at the circle. In its last incarnation, it was to cost about $150 million and be finished by this year, but inflation, along with costs associated to a related shuttle rail project, have driven up the bill.

Aéroports de Montréal president and CEO James Cherry told reporters a right of way has already been foreseen for the shuttle rail and preliminary work has also been conducted for the train. "We've built the tunnels, the shell of the station already," he said, explaining they are underneath a new airport terminal building presently under construction.

"We've been working with the governments of Canada, Quebec, the Agence Métropolitaine de Transport (AMT), and the city of Montreal to identify a project, which, essentially, meets with the needs of how to improve rail access to the West Island," he added.

Another component of the renovation project consists of tying the 520 and 20 highways directly to each other, rather than forcing drivers to get on a service road to switch between them.

Dorval Mayor Edgar Rouleau, an elected official at least since the project's original announcement, seemed confident today there would be no more surprise delays. "After 15 years of discussions, I am very happy about the announcement today confirming the beginning of the redevelopment of the Dorval interchange," he said.

The renovations also call for construction of a new bicycle path and sidewalks in order to make the circle--which currently lacks any pedestrian aid save for a crossing and traffic light--safer to navigate for those without vehicles.

According to public documents, construction of the two highway overpasses to the airport will begin this spring, and Cardinal Avenue will be redeveloped in the same time frame as well.

Though the renewed circle should be complete by 2013, the rail shuttle's construction has no such deadline.

"What we have to do is add rails to the existing corridor to provide additional passenger service to that corridor," Cherry said, adding that at least the rails should be installed by 2013.

However, as of today, the shuttle's complete trajectory, such as how much further into the West Island it would go, and how it would connect to existing local lines, is unknown.

"I don' think that has been clearly identified. (Quebec Transport Minister) Julie Boulet has clearly said it will serve the rest of the West Island, which is a very good thing," Ouimet said.