A rush hour that lasts all day in the city centre

Photo Pierre-Paul Poulin
The traffic remained dense as in the rush hour throughout the day, Thursday, in several areas of the city centre of Montreal.

Hugo Duchaine and
Laurence Houde-Roy

Thursday, 27 July, 2017 16:56

UPDATE
Thursday, 27 July 2017 21:30

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Motorists faced traffic jam worthy of rush hour in Montreal for almost the entire day of Thursday in several areas of the city centre because the streets closed for the circuit of Formula E.

“It’s like a rush hour that lasts all day, and even I would tell you that it is worse : there has never been so many cars that pass “, says Ginette Brosseau, who is a florist for five years at the corner of rue Saint-Denis and de la Gauchetière.

Thursday, a steady stream of motorists were taken a few minutes before his trade, waiting for the next green light to move forward. She even saw the spirits warm up in the morning when several drivers angry, have lost their patience and started to honk the horn and screaming.

“Throughout the day, at any time, there was a car stopped in front of my window, I do a days of 14 hours and I never see it,” adds Jessica Labbé, manager of the hotel Celebrities on the rue Saint-Denis.

The race of electric cars, it also causes other disadvantages. Its parking lot is inaccessible since Wednesday with the closure of the boulevard René-Lévesque, and the cars may not park in front of the entrance.

More police

Even if the circulation has remained relatively fluid, it has been noted that motorists often had to wait more than a green light to succeed to browse the Saint-Denis street, between boulevard René-Lévesque and avenue Viger, which is very rare.

In addition, the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) confirms that there are more police officers than usual are assigned to the traffic around the circuit of the Formula E.

“All the positions of district of Montreal have provided police officers,” says Andrée-Anne Picard, without specifying the exact number.

A necessary item, believe of the drivers, who find it difficult to cross the city centre. “It’s worse with the facilities of Formula E, and in addition, there are the regular tasks that are added to it. It is more difficult to move “, says Éric Desjardins, immobilized on the avenue Viger.

Other closures

Motorists will, however, need to take their evil in patience because of other road closures are expected Friday, including sections of the avenues Papineau and Viger and rue Saint-Antoine.

The City recommends that motorists visit its website to plan their trips and give priority to the public transport.

Earlier this week, mayor Denis Coderre has touted “the audacity” to hold the event in downtown Montreal.