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Sustainable Development and Public Consultation
at the Heart of the Turcot Mega-project in Montreal
One of the biggest projects in Montreal in recent years is nearing completion, after $4 billion of investment. Here’s a look at the work on the Turcot Interchange, which has played an important role in the lives of Montrealers over the past five years.
A highly complex project
Begun in 2015, the largest road construction project in Quebec was a tour de force in many respects. Connecting three highways, the Turcot Interchange includes four interchanges,
45 structures and a cable-stayed bridge across the Lachine Canal. At its peak, the site welcomed more than 1,000 construction workers and 300,000 vehicles daily.
From the beginning of work in 2015, Demix Construction was at the heart of this large-scale project, which required an impressive quantity of materials: two million tonnes of aggregates, 150,000 cubic metres of structural concrete and 135,000 cubic metres of concrete paving, not to mention the 120,000 tonnes of asphalt required for the construction of the ramps and the municipal network.
The complexity of the work was equally remarkable. To maintain traffic flow, the old interchange had to be demolished while the new one was under construction. As the existing structure limited the work area, including the clearance height, innovative techniques had to be used so as not to damage what was being built during demolition.
Environmental and social best practices
Sustainable development practices and public consultation were an integral part of the project from the early stages of its design. Here are a few compelling examples.
After the demolition of the 300,000 cubic metres of the interchange, most of the materials were reused, with the demolition concrete crushed and then used to build the foundations for the new roads. Compressed material was also extracted from the embankment along the three kilometre stretch of an old river to produce topsoil for planting.
To balance out the project’s carbon emissions, significant investments were also made in greening the
infrastructure. Eventually, 70,000 trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses and vines will be planted. Facilities for sustainable modes of transpor- tation have also been designed, including several multipurpose bike paths and dedicated traffic lanes.
Public involvement has also been at the heart of the project. A neighbourhood committee was formed, in collaboration with the Transportation Ministry of Quebec and the City of Montreal, to take the pulse of the population and consider residents’ concerns. Recommendations from the committee were subsequently implemented, such as the installation of a temporary noise barrier and screens to prevent debris from falling on cars.
A green and efficient interchange for many years to come
With road infrastructure and the opening of the new lanes completed in November 2020, only the landscaping along the roads is left for the summer of 2021. Motorists will therefore be able to take advantage of a new interchange and drive with peace of mind for decades to come.
December 2020 | THE CONVEYOR | 21
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