If the battery sector boosts the economy on Montreal’s South Shore, it will slow traffic on Highway 30, and that’s just the beginning, according to a study commissioned by the Ministry of Transportation. From summer 2024, traffic is expected to increase so much that traffic jams could stretch over 10 kilometers during rush hour.
These forecasts therefore force the ministry, the city of Bécancour and the industrial park to find very short-term solutions. The first step is to extend the access road south of the highway.
“[Pour la] Phase one and [la] Phase two is an east-west route. Phase three is that we come as soon as we can and pave the asphalt, install street lights, traffic lights and so on. It will begin in the coming weeks,” said Bécancour Industrial and Port Park Company President and CEO Donald Olivier.
This requires the addition of a new eastbound ramp that will connect the highway to the new access road. The idea is to provide better access for workers on construction sites today and in factories tomorrow.
“These are interventions to cover the needs during the construction phase, the commissioning phase of these factories. In the opportunity study, various scenarios are analyzed to meet future needs. So we are obviously talking about doubling Highway 30,” said the Director General of the Ministry of Transport and Mobility, Marie-Ève Turner.
An information meeting was held on Tuesday evening, mainly aimed at informing residents of the Domaine Bergeron district who may be affected by the work.
Several citizens were particularly afraid of noise and traffic.
“We want to make sure the service road runs as close to 30 as possible to reduce noise while maintaining good tree and plant cover. But the fact that this work can be carried out in winter, at a time when people spend less time outside, is in my opinion more favorable conditions,” emphasized the mayor of Bécancour, Lucie Allard.
During the first two phases of the construction of the access road, heavy traffic will be permitted on the Désilet road.
The peace in the neighborhood will be disturbed at least until spring. Heavy commercial vehicles will then have to use the new road.