These Montreal streets will be car-free this summer

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Eleven commercial streets will be turned into pedestrian-only zones this summer, the city of Montreal said Tuesday.

The stretches cover nine kilometres of road in seven boroughs, with cars banned for various periods between May and October. Local development agencies chose the projects after consultation with local merchants, the city said.

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For the first time, the heart of Plaza Saint-Hubert will be pedestrianized all summer. Some other streets will be car-free for longer periods this year. Cultural activities are planned.

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Here’s the list of streets:

Plateau Mont-Royal

• Mount-Royal Ave., St-Denis St. to De Lorimier Ave., June 5 to Aug. 26
• Mount-Royal Ave., St-Laurent Blvd. to St-Denis St., June 5 to Oct. 14
• Duluth Ave. E., St-Laurent Blvd. to St-Hubert St., May 14 to Oct. 15

Verdun

• Wellington St., 6th Ave. to Régina St., June 3 to Sept. 15

Ville-Marie

• Ste-Catherine St. E., St-Hubert St. to Papineau St., May 17 to Oct. 17
• Ste-Catherine St. W., St-Laurent Blvd. to Bleury St., May 1 to Oct. 31
• St. Denis St., Sherbrooke St. to Maisonneuve Blvd., June 18 to Sept. 17

Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

• Ontario St. E., Pie-IX Blvd. to Darling St., June 17 to Sept. 7

Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie

• Place du Marché-du-Nord, Casgrain Ave. to Henri-Julien Ave., June 6 to Oct. 13
• St-Hubert, Bellechasse St. to Jean-Talon St., July 4 to Aug. 25

Outremont

• Bernard Ave., Outremont Ave. to Bloomfield Ave., May 20 to Sept. 30

Villeray-Saint-Michel-Parc-Extension

• De Castelnau E., St-Denis St. to de Gaspé Ave., May 15 to Oct. 15

Several other roads are also to be pedestrianized for periods. For example, cars will be banned from Monkland Ave. between Girouard Ave. and Melrose Ave. between Aug. 22 and Aug. 25.

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“Since their creation, pedestrian streets have brought vibrancy to Montreal’s neighbourhoods and have become essential destinations, both for residents and visitors,” Mayor Valérie Plante said.

“I invite everyone to take advantage of these developments to support local businesses that shape the identity of our neighbourhoods.”

Aref Salem, leader of the opposition Ensemble Montréal party at Montreal city hall, said the city has added St-Hubert to its list of pedestrianized streets without increasing its budget for such projects. He said that could lead to a deterioration in the “experience of pedestrians.”

Salem said access to St-Hubert St. may also be compromised because of work on the Réseau express vélo bike lane project along the Jean-Talon St./Bélanger St. axis.

“This pedestrianization could quickly become the epicentre of an immobility disaster,” he said.

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