Montreal Accelerates Ste-Catherine Street Construction Timeline
The City of Montreal has announced a significant acceleration in its ongoing construction project along Ste-Catherine Street West, with the current phase now expected to conclude one year earlier than originally planned. Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada confirmed that work between St-Marc and Peel Streets, initially scheduled for completion by 2030, will now finish by 2029.
Mayor Emphasizes Downtown Revitalization
"We want it completely reopened as quickly as possible," Mayor Martinez Ferrada stated during her announcement, highlighting the construction's substantial impact on Montreal's downtown core and local businesses. The mayor made these remarks while delivering her first address to the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal since the November election, speaking before a packed conference room at the Palais des congrès.
The multi-phase redevelopment project, originally launched under the previous Projet Montréal administration, involves comprehensive upgrades including replacement of underground infrastructure, sidewalk widening, and addition of greenery along the prominent commercial thoroughfare. Work has progressed despite creating challenges for pedestrians navigating construction barriers and boarded-up walkways while shopping.
Financial Reallocation Enables Faster Progress
According to city officials, the accelerated timeline became possible through strategic financial reallocation. The municipality transferred $7 million from its capital works program to increase construction activity this year, a move expected to reduce overall project costs in the long term.
Upon completion of this phase by 2029, the stretch between St-Marc and Peel Streets will resemble the already finished section between Peel and Bleury Streets. The subsequent phase between St-Marc Street and Atwater Avenue remains scheduled to commence in 2030 as originally planned.
Pedestrianization Plans Currently Shelved
Initial project proposals included creating two pedestrian zones near McGill and Concordia universities, but these plans were ultimately abandoned. Mayor Martinez Ferrada clarified that "there is currently no plan for similar pedestrian-only sections on the street."
The mayor explained this decision by emphasizing immediate priorities: "Everybody likes pedestrian streets, no matter where you go in the world. But right now we need to get people back to downtown and regain downtown's vitality before we get into pedestrianization." She acknowledged that pedestrianization could become feasible eventually but stressed the need for collaboration with merchants and local business development associations first.
Broader Downtown Initiatives
Beyond the accelerated construction schedule, Montreal recently designated part of the downtown core as a "laboratory" for testing innovative construction site planning approaches, including potential elimination of traditional orange cones. This initiative aligns with Mayor Martinez Ferrada's expressed goal of improving Montreal's international image beyond perceptions of potholes and construction barriers.
During her Chamber of Commerce address, the mayor also addressed other municipal challenges:
- Described Montreal as at a "crossroads" regarding homelessness, citing recent rapid opening of warming centers as evidence of responsive action
- Reiterated her administration's focus on improving basic services as foundational to rebuilding public trust
- Emphasized Montreal's unique position as a French-speaking metropolis hosting major festivals, the Canadian Open, and Grand Prix events
"We have incredible assets," Mayor Martinez Ferrada concluded. "And we need to talk about ourselves in a positive light." The accelerated Ste-Catherine Street construction represents a tangible step toward that vision of enhanced urban vitality and improved municipal services.
