Montréal’s New Mayor Takes on the City’s Chaotic Construction Sites
Montreal is no stranger to traffic headaches, but under the leadership of the city’s new mayor, Soraya Martinez Ferrada, a fresh approach to managing the city’s construction chaos is being introduced. On Monday, the mayor toured several construction sites across the city with the TVA Nouvelles team, shining a spotlight on the challenges motorists face daily and outlining her plan to bring order and clarity to the streets.
The tour began on Saint-Antoine Street in Old Montreal, an area riddled with ongoing works. Drivers there often navigate a maze of detours, with confusing signage that sometimes leads nowhere. “This is what we hear most often,” the mayor acknowledged. “Sometimes, there are detours and signs that don’t actually guide you anywhere.” Along the way, orange cones were spotted scattered on sidewalks, seemingly without purpose. The mayor explained that the city cannot simply remove them without verifying their ownership and the reasons for their placement, highlighting a need for accountability and proper coordination.
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“This first question is: who do these cones belong to?” she said. “Are they the responsibility of the borough? Are there scheduled works? We need to know this first, and our mobility squad should help us manage it.” While the cones themselves may seem minor, Martinez Ferrada’s frustration was clear: “It’s not pretty! Sometimes, you arrive where the work is finished, and you wait several days before the cones are removed.”
The mayor’s focus is on better coordination of Montreal’s numerous construction projects, which frequently paralyze traffic. Her plan includes ensuring that each project clearly displays its start and end dates, making timelines transparent for the public. She also wants every site to have a designated responsible party, whether a city department or a contractor, to ensure accountability in case problems arise. “Maybe having the contractor’s name or a phone number, or knowing whether the work is city-related or not,” she suggested, emphasizing clarity and responsible management.
Martinez Ferrada’s approach reflects her broader vision: prioritize practical management and problem-solving over grandiose plans. During her campaign, she promised that within her first 100 days in office, a comprehensive inventory of all city construction projects would be completed, allowing for improved coordination and reduced disruption for residents. Her hands-on approach demonstrates a commitment to not just planning, but executing—ensuring that Montreal functions smoothly today while preparing for the improvements of tomorrow.
As the mayor continues her efforts, residents will be watching closely to see whether these changes can finally turn the city’s construction headaches into a more manageable and organized system. The hope is that with better planning, clearer communication, and stronger accountability, Montreal streets will become more navigable and less frustrating for everyone.
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