Home | Contacts | Classifieds | Archives | Media Kit | Email Us |
The Town of Two Mountains in conjunction with Ste-Marthe-sur-le-Lac is asking Transport Quebec to reconfigure the intersection of 20th Avenue and Boulevard des Promenades in order to improve the flow of traffic.
Jammed with traffic
A resolution passed by town council last week noted that the Exit 8 ramp on Autoroute 640, which is the main access for most residents in and out of Ste-Marthe and Two Mountains, could become even more jammed in the future as Ste-Marthe undergoes further residential development.
As a result of the number of motorists trying to get onto the autoroute each morning and coming off it in late afternoon, the 20th Avenue/des Promenades intersection is typically choked with vehicles at rush hours. Cars arriving with passengers for the commuter train at the AMT’s Two Mountains station also add to the chaos. The resolution also noted that there are two schools in the area, which raise security concerns.
Worn out traffic lights
Transport Quebec has given the Town of Two Mountains authority over traffic lights the ministry previously took care of. However, the town notes that, because of the intensity of the traffic situation, the lights are now worn out and are in need of replacement.
Ste-Marthe made a similar request to the ministry two years ago, while also asking that Transport Quebec consider creating a new access ramp exclusively for Ste-Marthe. This is also at least the second time the Town of Two Mountains formally asks Quebec to fix rush hour traffic problems at the 20th Avenue/des Promenades/A-640 intersection.
Big city scandal, local fallout
The recent controversy in the City of Montreal over the awarding of a $300 million water meter contract resonated in Two Mountains town council. Mayor Marc Lauzon acknowledged that one of the companies implicated in the scandal may have done business at one time or another with Two Mountains. Coincidentally, the owner of one of the companies implicated in the scandal is listed in government business records as a Two Mountains resident.
But, the mayor pointed out that as one of the province’s largest contractors for public works, the company also does business with virtually every other municipality across Quebec. One of its subsidiaries was an unsuccessful bidder on a contract this month to refurbish the town’s water treatment plant. “We will let the police and other competent persons and authorities judge,” said Lauzon.
“That company, which has, I think, 4,000 employees who are people like you and me, I think shows that they are not thieves. But have these people for whatever reasons done things that are wrong? I could not tell you. As for me, however, what we see in the Town of Two Mountains is that these people are competent and do the work they are asked and up to now it’s gone well. That’s what touches us in Two Mountains and the day it stops working we’ll let you know.”
‘Wasn’t on the boat,’ jokes mayor
Citing recent news reports, Monique Dorion, a frequent attendee at council meetings who has also been one of the Lauzon administration’s most vocal critics, said, “We learn that municipal elected officials and municipal functionaries have been benefiting from the largesse of big expertise companies, that have a lot of money,” she said.
She mentioned some of the perks Montreal officials have been reported to have received, including box tickets to NHL hockey games and yacht cruises in the Bahamas. “I’m going to stop you there, I’ve never been in Mr. Accurso’s boat,” interrupted the mayor, getting a few laughs. “So you can assure me that none of our functionaries have at one point …” Dorion added. “To my knowledge, no functionary or municipal official has been on the boat,” replied the mayor.
Lighting in 13th Avenue park
Bob Fordham, a longtime sports coach and referee in the town, told the mayor he was concerned about the state of some local sports facilities. Among other things, he wanted to know whether the lights in the 13th Avenue park will be fixed or replaced for soccer and softball.
Lauzon said town officials have been in discussions with soccer and softball associations. “We knew we had some problems at the softball fields, so we work every year to cut the tree and make sure the light is okay,” he said, adding that it was the first he’d heard of the problem, but that they would verify whether a stronger light source might fix it.
BACK