The City of Montreal and the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough announced Friday changes to the planned Hochelaga Street bike path following public consultations.
The project, which was initially expected to extend to Highway 25, will now end at Louis-Veuillot Street and connect to the Souligny REV (Réseau express vélo).
Related:
The revised plan includes one-way bike paths on each side of Hochelaga Street up to Louis-Veuillot Street, in the Mercier-Ouest district. From there, eastbound cyclists will be directed to the Lacordaire Street bike path south to connect with the Souligny Avenue corridor.
Westbound cyclists coming from the Souligny path will be able to use a nearby route along Louis-Veuillot Street northbound to reach Hochelaga Street.
“I am pleased that the borough has modified the bike path project to better reflect the wishes of residents,” said Alan DeSousa, a member of Montreal’s executive committee responsible for mobility and infrastructure. “We are committed to listening to the community and adapting projects to ensure they meet local needs.”
Officials say work between Viau and Louis-Veuillot streets is scheduled between 2027 and 2029 to align with planned Hydro-Québec work in the area. The section between Desjardins Ave. and Viau Street will be completed at a later date.
Work on the first phase of the project, which began in 2025 and paused for the winter, is expected to resume and be completed this spring.
The city also confirmed that the planned section between Lacordaire Street and Highway 25 has been cancelled to avoid duplicating an existing bike route along the Souligny axis.
“In just a few months, we have fulfilled our commitment to consult residents on the project’s next phases,” said borough mayor Chantal Gagnon. “Citizens want a connected bike network, but they also raised concerns about traffic flow, parking and other impacts. Adjustments will be made to address those concerns.”
Public consultations were held April 2, with 548 participants providing feedback on two proposed routes.
Option 1, which called for continuing the bike path along Hochelaga Street within five years, was supported by 82.9 per cent of respondents, or 454 people.
Option 2, which proposed routing the path along de Rouen Street and through the Steinberg woods over an eight- to 10-year period, was supported by 43 people, or seven per cent.
Another 32 respondents, or 5.8 per cent, said they supported both options, while 19 people indicated they were unsure or preferred not to answer. Of those, 16 expressed opposition to the project in written comments.
