L'autoroute Bonaventure | Bonaventure Expressway
 

Projet Bonaventure

http://i58.tinypic.com/5txkpc.jpg
http://www.projetbonaventure.ca/fr/

http://www.projetbonaventure.ca/fr/chantier/

Anciens photos de 2009:
http://www.portailconstructo.com/act...surveiller_143

Bonaventure Expressway
 

Hubby came across an article this morning in LaPresse called "PROJET BONAVENTURE Un boulevard et de la verdure" by Daphné Cameron.

He sent me this link: http://plus.lapresse.ca/screens/a42b...4e2639|_0.html


However this is what he got on his IPad and when he sent the link to me I couldn't see the renders nor get the full text of the article which I found here

http://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/mo...a-montreal.php


The pic that comes with the article show renderings of a park in the middle and not buildings as previously envisioned. I know I saw threads here showing renderings of new highrises in a redeveloped Bonaventure but I couldn't find them.

I like this new vision for Bonaventure though I think it strange that there'll be 5 outbound lanes and only 4 inbound

When he showed me on the IPad there were 4 renders all from different angles...I wish I could find them now

You'll find all the information and renderings about the new annoucement here (French):

http://projetbonaventure.ca/projet/la-vision/

PDF:
http://projetbonaventure.ca/wp-conte...agement_lo.pdf

I don't know... I am not that excited with this new version of the project. The previous renders (I will try to find them back) showed some grandeur and prestige... with the construction of towers at some points in the center of the new boulevard...

The previous version also suggested that the lower part of the railway bridge (on the western side of the new boulevard) would be converted into small shops, cafés, boutiques...

With all that not being included in the new plan, I wonder WHO will use this huge public space, surrounded by 4 or 5 lanes of traffic jams, and small office towers (or even worse, Bureau en Gros and vacant lots) on the eastern side... Nothing there to generate appropriation of the public space.

It looks to me as a temporary project only made to show the population that the City will give a consisting legacy for the 375th...

I'm very skeptical of how pleasant this park will actually be:

1. Unless the rail overpass is modified to accommodate active retail, you condemn that sidewalk to eternal dullness.

2. On the other side of the street, you have 4 lanes of fast traffic untempered by on-street parking. With the noise and the speed, it makes it very unpleasant to sit or walk by the road, which isn't good for active retail frontage which depends on people both sitting and walking.

3. Being between two large roads of traffic isn't super fun either and it isn't easily accessible (you can't easily jaywalk, so you have to walk however far to the next intersection). I think this space will end up being almost always empty and essentially useless.


What I would propose is a more efficient use of space to be as effective as possible in creating an active street:

http://greatergreater.com/images/201...villecross.jpg
http://www.rrcoplanning.ppaponline.o...linBlvdMWB.jpg

A multiway boulevard would allow for fast traffic in the centre, parking, bikeable slip lanes AND a pleasant pedestrian experience sheltered from the noise of traffic. With the space saved, you could allow for much larger sidewalks and more space for a healthier canopy of trees. Let's not make this into another Viger.

I guess I should have said I liked it better than the previous vision which had roads on each side of tall buildings because as much as I like skyscrapers that did look kinda weird

I REALLY like Aylmer's idea...the only other option better than the park in the middle would be the park off to one said, say alongside and (eventually) hiding the rail tracks.