“Bridge # 4” becoming more popular

There are already three bridges that facilitate entry to, and exit from, the island : Clément Bridge, L'Île-des-Sœurs Bridge and the Champlain Bridge. This other bridge is supposed to link the island to the mainland near Verdun Hospital.

This subject has been raised several times but residents of L'Île-des-Sœurs can’t come to a unanimous agreement. Some of them are definitely against it while others would like to reserve this bridge for use by emergency vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and public transportation. Other people expressed the opinion that given major investments made for a bridge, it would be more worth it to allow access by all types of vehicles; this would diminish traffic jams on highway 15 north and on the Bonaventure expressway.

If one were to judge the comments made during the council meetings, Verdun’s officials do not seem to be in a rush to discuss this issue. This issue has to take its natural course and people could raise as much talk about it as possible. During the recent traffic jams, it would have been reassuring to know that the public could get to Verdun Hospital in less than five minutes from the island. Also, this link would allow residents to go to the De L’Église and LaSalle subway stations in a few minutes. The police officers of station 16 and the firemen of the LaSalle Boulevard fire station can also make it to the island a lot faster at any given time.

It goes without saying as well that island residents must be provided with the convenience of going to many recreational facilities. To mention a few of these, there are the interior skating rinks of the Verdun Auditorium, Arthur-Therrien park and the indoor pool of the Mgr Richard school, which would be a stone’s throw away from several island buildings and dwellings.

If indeed several residents of L'Île-des-Sœurs are against this bridge, no one can really confirm that they belong to the majority. The population in the island has not only grown in size, but has also significantly changed in the last ten years. And if it is decided to gather information, it certainly would be interesting to know their opinions about various alternatives for this project.

Perhaps it’s the kind of survey that the Association des propriétaires et résidants de L'Île-des-Sœurs (APRIDS) could efficiently carry out...