Royalmount mega-mall project a step closer to completion, but traffic concerns remain

After almost a decade in the works, a massive development project planned for midtown Montreal is one step closer to completion.

Over the weekend, a 200-metre-long pedestrian skywalk was installed over the Décarie Expressway, connecting Montreal's de la Savane Metro station with the future Royalmount mega-mall complex in the Town of Mount Royal (TMR) at the junction of Highways 15 and 40.

The enclosed walkway was added to the project to ease concerns about congestion in the already busy area, offering an alternative to driving and encouraging the use of public transit.

Andrew Lutfy, CEO of Carbonleo, the project's developer, says the walkway is a game changer for Montreal and for the environment.

"We'll probably drive about 20 million visits or passengers through the sky bridge on an annual basis," he said. "That's 20 million people that are using green transportation."

A rendering of the commercial complex at the intersection of Highways 15 and 40. Phase 1 of the project is expected to be complete and available to the public by Aug. 15, 2024. (Carbonleo)

Developers initially estimated one-third of potential visitors to Royalmount would come by public transit, but now, they've upped that to two-thirds.

"[The bridge] is transformative for Montreal, for our society, for our planet," Lutfy said.

Meanwhile, politicians are less convinced.

Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has long said the walkway is not sufficient to manage the influx of traffic. The area is already jammed with more than 360,000 vehicles a day.

Even TMR Mayor Peter Malouf, an enthusiastic supporter of Royalmount, has his concerns.

"It's a large project with a lot of stores and a lot of restaurants," Malouf said. "We have to face one fact that … there's going to be an increase in traffic to what is existing there."

A 'long overdue' solution

In addition to the walkway, Carbonleo says it's spending close to $30 million to expand the road network on Côte-de-Liesse Road, creating dedicated lanes for trucks to head west onto Highway 40 to alleviate congestion near the complex.

But Malouf says the solution is clear — and it's far from innovative.

He says completing the extension of Cavendish Boulevard to bypass the Canadian Pacific train yards that divide Côte Saint-Luc from Saint-Laurent will open up access for those trucks.

"Without Cavendish, that whole area is basically blocked in and we need to unblock it and it's long overdue. It's [been] over 60 years," said Malouf.

Despite decades of inaction by the city, Malouf thinks he can convince Montreal to move forward with the Cavendish extension and get the province to help pay.

"I think the biggest challenge has always been the cost of it, the willingness to do it, etc. But we know … the cost of not doing it is terrible," he said.

The Ministry of Transport refused to comment, saying the Cavendish extension is the city of Montreal's project.

CBC reached out to the city for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

Lutfy, for his part, is undaunted by the traffic concerns, saying he is "1,000 per cent" sure people — especially younger people who represent the majority of luxury shoppers — will come by Metro.

Phase 1 of the Royalmount project — the first of 19 — is scheduled to be complete and available to the public by Aug. 15, 2024. It will include the shops, restaurants and green spaces.