The new entrance to the city will cost$142 Million

Photo: Martin Knight
The final result of the work of$ 142 Million, which have helped to destroy the concrete structure is raised.

Charlotte R.-Castilloux

Wednesday, September 6, 2017 15:09

UPDATE
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 23:13

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The new entry of Montreal does not look like may not be what was originally submitted in 2010, but the mayor and several of the workers in the sector, it is a success welcoming.

The buildings of 32 floors, which were initially announced to have yielded their place to a large green space that offers an unobstructed view of the city centre for motorists coming from the Bonaventure expressway, where the public art rubs shoulders with the playgrounds, and rest. This new boulevard Robert-Bourassa is a public space and connecting neighbourhoods in the South-West and Old Montréal.

Built at a cost of 141.7 M$, from which a part of the budget was used to demolish the massive concrete structure above the level of the Bonaventure highway, the new entrance to Montreal was completed in time and on budget. The nightmare of motorists in this area should therefore be done.

Photo: Martin Knight

André Desmarais, president and co-ceo of Power Corporation, the Montreal mayor, Denis Coderre, the Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, France Chrétien Desmarais, president of the Society for the 375th, and Martin Cauchon (standing behind), president director of the Group capital cities Media, attended the inauguration of the entrance of the Bonaventure expressway.

“Before, [the highway inspired me] to happen more quickly. Here, I want to stop “, says the mayor of Montréal, Denis Coderre proud of the new entrance to the town of Bonaventure.

A work for the occasion

At the southern end of this public space, the work Sources, of the Spanish artist Jaume Plensa will host the drivers.

The sculpture, commissioned and paid by France Chrétien-Desmarais and André Desmarais, is a representation of the diversity of Montreal, with the various symbols of which it is composed. If the work is a gift from the Desmarais, the City of Montreal has even had to pay $ 300,000 for her installation and will be responsible for its maintenance and conservation.

A second work, Dentrites of the artist Michel de Broin, will be inaugurated this Friday at the other end of the boulevard. A dozen sun loungers, picnic tables, ping-pong tables and 300 trees have also been installed.

Festive Inauguration

Wednesday’s event launched a series of four “lunch with a festive” where the people of the area are invited to come along and adopt this public space.

Move from a highway to a public space completely changes the scenery and the reality of those who live there daily. “It is pleasant, it is certain that I will come to eat my lunch here when the temperature allows me,” says Freddy Vindevghel who works nearby.

Colleagues even came out for a picnic in the park for the opening. “We are celebrating the end of the work! It was anxious that it be finished, ” says Rachida Guesmia happy to have a green space near his place of work.

A park and not towers of 32 floors

In 2010, while the initial plans for the Bonaventure project were unveiled for the City of Montreal had to incorporate impressive buildings to accommodate offices and residents. Important constraints such as green roofs, transparent walls and towers, and narrow, 32-storey do not want to block the view of the city centre were among the constraints of the Bonaventure expressway.

The idea was abandoned in 2014. The executive committee considered that the open space by the demolition of the highway should remain a public place.

“It was a lack of green spaces in the South-West, for me it is important. We pass from a highway to an urban boulevard, and increases the quality of life [of people] with this kind of greening, ” said the mayor of Montréal, Denis Coderre.

The president of the chamber of trade of metropolitan Montreal, Michel Leblanc explained that the project had its meaning at the time, but that with the movements of real estate projects, a project green meets better the needs of the metropolis.