$379M to repair city roads this year

Figure doesn’t include $50 million for boroughs

Get ready for a lot of road closures and detours.

Montreal will spend $379 million fixing roads, sidewalks, bridges, tunnels and water infrastructure in 2012, the city announced Thursday.

That’s up from $240 million last year.

In addition to the $379 million, the city is giving $50 million to the 19 boroughs to rebuild roads. The money will be distributed based on the size of borough road networks and the state of their roadways, the city said.

Montreal published a list of the 34 projects that will have the biggest impact on traffic in 2012. It did not reveal the cost of each project, noting contracts for the work have not been signed yet.

The list includes sewer and watermain work around the under-construction Mcgill University Health Centre superhospital; the repaving and rebuilding of sidewalks on Crémazie Blvd; and the replacement of the deck on a bridge linking Henri Bourassa Blvd. E. and Highway 40.

Richard Deschamps, city executive committee member responsible for infrastructure, said the city will do a better job of letting motorists know about construction this year. He said Montreal has also improved its co-ordination of road work with Transport Quebec.

At least one Montreal road project this year will involve Louisbourg SBC, S.E.C., a company linked to construction magnate Antonio Accurso, who was arrested last week on charges of fraud, conspiracy and bribery.

This month, the city indicated it will give Louisbourg a $12.7-million contract related to a train bridge that is being rebuilt at Décarie and de Maisonneuve Blvds. to accommodate extra traffic from the nearby MUHC hospital.

Opposition city councillor Peter Mcqueen has called on Montreal to reject Louisbourg’s bid due to the charges against Accurso.

But Deschamps said the city’s hands are tied. Louisbourg was the lowest bidder. Under the law, “I have to deal with the lowest bidder who won the bidding and that is this company,” he said.

Other levels of government are also planning roadwork that will affect motorists this spring, summer and fall.

In February, the Quebec government announced it will spend $586 million on provincial roads on Montreal Island in 2012-13, up from $444 million the previous year.

In addition, Quebec is spending $21 million on the Mercier Bridge in 2012, and has said part of that span will be closed at least once per month for repairs.

Motorists should also expect lane closures on the federally owned Champlain and Jacques Cartier bridges.

Ottawa is spending $34 million on the Champlain this year. For eight weekends in 2012, maybe more, three of the bridge’s six lanes are expected to be closed.

The federal government is spending another $3.5 million on the Jacques Cartier, which will be completely closed for 15 brief overnight periods this spring.