Dorchester Square set to reopen July 1
Renovation work to cost $23 million
BY MAX HARROLD, THE GAZETTEAPRIL 15, 2010 8:58 AM
Phase 1: The initial part of Dorchester Square's refurbishing began in July. It has a price tag of $9.5 million.
Photograph by: MARCOS TOWNSEND, THE GAZETTE, The Gazette
MONTREAL -- Dorchester Square should reopen to everyone - not just construction workers, pigeons and squirrels - by July 1, as scheduled, the city of Montreal says.
The traditional downtown meeting place for lunchtime brown-baggers, political protesters and bused-in tourists has been closed to all but hard-hatted crews and urban wildlife since July, when the city began a
$23-million revamping of the square and Place du Canada.
Workers have been cutting down trees and planting trees, repaving walkways and repairing monuments, lampstands, sidewalks, benches and the cast-iron fountain.
They had to stop during the winter because paving is not possible when the ground is frozen, explained Céline Topp, director of the city's office of architectural heritage.
Although work did speed up as a result of the early spring, Topp said it won't be enough to reopen the square in time for the Grand Prix of Canada, which returns this year from June 11 to 13 and is expected to bring more visitors downtown.
Phase 1 of the project, involving the current work on Dorchester Square, is costing the city and the province $9.5 million.
mharrold@thegazette.canwest.com
Phase 2: Street to be redesigned in project set to start in autumn.
Phase 2 of a project to revamp Dorchester Square and Place du Canada is expected to start this fall.
The city plans to raze the southern part of Dorchester Square St. - the portion that now is one way west for vehicles - and extend the park over it. The current northern, one-way east section of Dorchester Square St. is to be reconstructed as a two-way thoroughfare with three lanes: two for cars and one for tourist buses to park. The city insists there will be enough room.
The work is slated to start this fall and to be completed next spring.
Phase 2 is budgeted at $13.5 million and involves other work at Place du Canada by 2012.
Also, a plan to move ramps that lead to a parking garage under the square has been abandoned. The ramps will remain where they are.
© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
d more:
http://www.montrealgazette.com/Dorch...#ixzz0lBShHMYV
Now how about doing something about the worst eyesore in Montreal Viger Square? I swear the person who designed that monstrosity should face criminal charges, the worst part is that hell hole is a couple blocks from city hall, maybe if Tremblay took his head out of his ass he might take some action
Linear Mode
