Debate over future of Montreal’s Van Horne overpass heats up

The debate over the future of this urban overpass in Montreal is heating up. I believe that if we have to go through a major construction project well we should size this opportunity to build something out of the ordinary. The Van Horn overpass connects the Plateau borough to the Rosemont borough passing over the railway track. The overpass is supposed to reach the end of its useful life by 2030. The city of Montreal wants to tear it down. And build either a new overpass or an underpass underneath the tracks. That would take several years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars. The two local borough governments, both led by the opposition Projet Montréal, are rejecting those options. They say the idea of essentially rebuilding an urban highway is out of date. They think maybe just a pedestrian connection over the railway tracks would be enough. But an engineer's report commissioned by the city in 2024 says getting rid of the overpass would have a major impact on emergency services and public transit. The mayors of the two boroughs say they aren't convinced of that and that people could find ways to adapt. The administration has only confirmed that it wants to preserve a road connection and we expect more than just a conversation around road connection. Each borough has a different idea about what it wants to do with its portion of the space. Rosemont wants to tear down the part of the overpass on its territory to build a new eco-friendly residential neighborhood. The Plateau has a different idea. It wants to preserve its portion of the existing structure but not as a roadway. We often talk about what's happening on top of the overpass but we also need to reflect on what's happening under it and around it. There we go. The area underneath has become a gathering place all its own for skateboarders, sports and concerts. The plateau wants to keep part of the existing structure on its territory as a shelter for those events, perhaps as part of a park. Wong says the next major step is public consultations. No one from the central city was available to do an interview but in a statement a spokesperson says the city is open to all options. and ready to work with both boroughs to try to come up with a plan that will breathe new life into this space.