Reconstruction of Avenue Claremont

This project offers a great opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the area to improve underground infrastructure capacity, manage stormwater more effectively, and develop green spaces. The projet aims to rebuild and reconfigure streets to meet today’s needs in terms of safety, mobility and accessibility, while respecting the existing urban fabric.

The reconstruction work will start in 2025.

Westmount citizens were invited to take part in a questionnaire regarding this project and to share their opinion on preliminary models for the reconstruction of Avenue Claremont. Furthermore, citizens were invited to provide feedback via an online survey on the Claremont Triangle pilot projet, which was implemented between August and November 2024 (details below), within the scope of this same project. The results of these activities will help inform the next steps of the reconstruction project.

The next public activity is planned for January 2025. Details will be posted as they become available.

The City implemented a pilot project concerning the triangle at the intersection of Avenues Claremont, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Westmount, as part of the planned reconstruction of Avenue Claremont.

From August to November 2024, temporary installations closed vehicular access to a section of Avenue Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, on the northeast side of the triangle.

Objectives

• Improve safety with a new design that better responds to issues raised by the public during the participatory workshop held in spring 2024.
• Take advantage of greening opportunities by repurposing an area of 515 square meters for a more sensible use of public space, which could help to reduce heat islands.
• Use the flexibility of the pilot project model to test a new design and gather data that will inform the formal reconstruction project.

Why a pilot project?

The pilot project approach is increasingly favoured in city planning to measure the real impact of spatial transformation. Unlike a formal project, it adopts a tactical approach that allows for rapid, reversible changes and low financial impact.

This pilot project is in keeping with a tradition of progressive interventions on the public domain in Westmount with an incremental and responsible approach:

• In 1975-1976, City Council closed part of Boulevard De Maisonneuve to integrate it into Westmount Park.
• In 2010, the northern section of the Summit Circle loop was closed to motor traffic, followed a few years later by a renaturalisation project.

Design Details

• Closure of a section of Avenue Notre-Dame-de-Grâce to vehicular traffic between Avenues Claremont and Westmount, to prioritize the passage of cars on Avenue Claremont.
• Introduction of a one-way southbound on Avenue Claremont north of Avenue Westmount.
• Redesign of the intersections at Avenues Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and Claremont, and at Avenues Claremont and Westmount.
• Introduction of new signage, pavement markings and safety features.

Pilot Project Timeline

• August 2024: Implementation
• September to November 2024: Evaluation period
• November 2024: End of the pilot project