Construction begins on REM transportation network

Rendering of the future Rive-Sud terminal station.

MONTREAL—Main construction sites have been announced for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), Quebec’s largest public transit project in the last 50 years.

Work on the REM will begin April 27. It is expected to be operational in 2021.

Construction sites include:

• Deux-Montagnes railway line: A high frequency rail system will be implemented. An electrical power system will be installed, infrastructure converted and universally accessible buildings constructed
• South shore: Work will be focused on Highway 10 in 2018-19 to build the future Panama and Du Quartier stations. Road access points and reserved lanes will be reconfigured. Work is also planned for the entrances to the Rive-Sud terminal station.
• West Island and the airport: In the West Island of Montreal, preparatory work will begin along the future Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Airport branches in 2018. The Doney railway right of way will be dismantled. Construction will take place along Highway 40 so that superstructures can be installed to build foundation units for the network’s elevated structure.
• Université de Montréal sector: Excavation work will begin in late summer 2018 to connect Montreal’s Blue Line to the future Édouard-Montpetit REM station – to be the second deepest station in North America.
• Downtown Montreal: Excavation work will start in fall 2018 on the east side of McGill College Avenue, between Sainte-Catherine Street and De Maisonneuve Boulevard.

A total of 26 REM stations, 25 overpasses, two maintenance centres, 13 bus terminals and 12 park-and-ride lots will be constructed.

Groupe NouvLR (SNC-Lavalin, Dragados Canada, Aecon, EBC and Pomerleau) and Groupe des Partenaires pour la Mobilite des Montrealais (SNC-Lavalin operations and maintenance and Alstom Transport Canada) are the winning consortia for the project.