Primary construction sites for fall 2018

As we do every quarter, we have presented the details about upcoming work to the media. Below is an overview of the construction sites to watch for this fall, including: Panama, Édouard-Montpetit, McGill, Canora, Mont-Royal, and Doney Spur.

Download the technical briefing

1. Downtown: Excavation to build the future Édouard-Montpetit and (soon) McGill stations

The construction site at Édouard-Montpetit station is already set up. The metro entrance facing Pavillon Marie-Victorin is currently being demolished (the other two remaining metro entrances will remain accessible throughout the work). Between now and October, we will begin digging to build the station. The excavation will be done by blasting, which entails controlled explosions to break the rock and gradually dig down to the Mont-Royal tunnel, some 70 m underground, where the REM station platforms will be located.

Works info: Édouard-Montpetit

As for the McGill station, preparatory work will begin in early September. For this quarter, activities will consist in moving underground urban public utilities (e.g. water, electricity and telephone equipment). This is a crucial step before the start of excavation work in the spring of 2019.

There will also be construction sites in Griffintown. Streets will be closed in an alternating sequence, one at a time, (St-Jacques, Notre-Dame, St-Maurice, St-Paul, William, Ottawa and Wellington) to allow for the rehabilitation of the southern overpass, on which the REM will run.

2. South Shore: The first pillars are taking shape 

The REM’s pillars are now being built on the South Shore. In concrete terms, this means that you will see the very first pillar erected by early September near the intersection of Highway 10 and Highway 30 (more info here).

The other major construction site is located at the Panama bus terminal. Work will take place at the current terminal’s location to build the future REM station. As a replacement and to maintain bus service at all times, a temporary terminal will be set up in the park-and-ride lot in September. The park-and-ride lot’s capacity will therefore be reduced from 1,500 to 1,000 spaces. Discussions are underway with nearby land owners to identify alternative parking spaces.

Works info: Panama

3. Deux-Montagnes line: Construction of Mont-Royal and Canora stations

Work is already underway at the Canora and Mont-Royal stations and will continue in the fall. New catenary poles are currently being installed in the centre of the tracks. The transfer of electrical power (in collaboration with CN) will be possible in the next few days. The gantries in place, the imposing steel structures above the railway, will be dismantled at both stations once the catenary has been moved. The next steps will entail removing the tracks, demolishing the platforms on the west side, installing the piles for the stations and performing foundation work.

Works info: Canora and Mont-Royal

4. West Island and airport: Demolition of the Doney Spur

With regard to the West Island, the construction sites will mainly focus on preparatory, including geotechnical drilling, surveying, and identifying and relocating public utilities. Click here for a more detailed explanation of this work.

One element to keep in mind is that the Doney Spur track will be demolished but reused by the REM (see map below). One of its railway bridges, which runs above Highway 40 near Henri-Bourassa, will be dismantled, resulting in highway deviations for a weekend. We are working with the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l’Électrification des transports (MTMDET) to coordinate these construction sites. 

For further information, see the detailed presentation for fall 2018 or watch the presentation below.

Recommendation for Deux-Montagnes line riders

Due to this work, the schedules for the Deux-Montagne line have been changed and exo anticipates higher ridership on certain trains. Here are some recommendations, provided in partnership with Mobility Montréal.

• For all stations: choose departure times before or after peak periods, if possible depending on family and professional situations. Analyses have shown that there is still some capacity remaining on certain trains before and after peak periods (see charts below).
• Bois-Franc, Du Ruisseau and Montpelier stations: use the Côte-Vertu bus and metro. Specific lines are proposed in partnership with the STM (64, 171, 121).
• Canora and Mont-Royal stations: use the Mascouche line (4 arrivals in the morning and 4 arrivals at night) instead of the Deux-Montagnes line. See schedule

It is worth noting that, for the second time this year, exo is offering a trial TRAM pass (10 trips) to help you transition to a new routine and test out new routes. Teams will be sent to the train stations to pass out transit passes and advise riders about the various options.

For more information, see our page on REM work on the Deux-Montagnes line.