Experts discuss plans for "crumbling" Turcot

Jason Prince and Pierre Gauthier, co-editors along with Jochen Jaeger of the book 'Montreal at the Crossroads: Superhighways, the Turcot and the Environment,' spoke for more than an hour on the Turcot Interchange project, presenting everything from detailed studies of current traffic flows across the island and the concentration of air pollution to how other cities had successfully dealt with their own commuter traffic problems.

Prince, an urban planner from McGill University, outlined the Turcot replacement plans as they now stand, with an estimated 280,000 truck trips and 90 days of night work to take place on Westmount's doorstep. "There will be a hell of a lot of noise and dust during construction," Prince said of the estimated seven-year project. And while Westmount might be slightly better off in terms of highway noise after completion, he said, air pollution will be as bad — or worse — than current levels.

Referring to the current Turcot Interchange as a "crumbling infrastructure," Gauthier, a professor of urban planning at Concordia University, pointed out that all government and special interest groups concerned with the project agree that the current interchange must be replaced.

Citing examples from China and Europe, where similar situations were handled in an efficient, environmentally friendly manner — with some highways routed beneath green spaces and in one case a zoo — Gauthier stressed the importance of using existing technology to its fullest advantage.

He also urged residents to keep a vigilant eye on the project and to continue voicing their concerns to their elected officials.

WMA president Jean-Pierre Picard introduced the evening, pointing out the importance of holding public meetings on issues such as the Turcot Interchange, as the project will have a profound effect on most Westmounters. He also thanked WMA board member Dr. Maureen Kiely, who as the WMA's representative in the Community Urban Research Alliance was instrumental in organizing the meeting.