City engineers have submitted a report recommending that the aging Rosemont‑Van Horne viaduct be taken down and replaced with an underground passage beneath the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks. The proposal, released on Monday, outlines a plan to demolish the existing structure and construct a tunnel that would carry traffic below the rail line, eliminating the need for the elevated viaduct.
The recommendation comes as part of the city's ongoing evaluation of options for the deteriorating viaduct, which has been identified as a critical piece of infrastructure requiring renewal. By moving traffic underground, the city aims to address concerns about the viaduct's condition while maintaining connectivity across the railway corridor.
Engineers hired by the City of Montreal evaluated the current state of the viaduct and concluded that demolition and tunnel construction would provide a more sustainable solution than repair or replacement of the existing structure. The report emphasizes that the tunnel would be built directly beneath the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, allowing uninterrupted rail operations during construction.
The city has not yet announced a timeline or budget for the project, but the engineering recommendation will be considered alongside other potential approaches as municipal officials continue to assess the best path forward for the Rosemont‑Van Horne corridor. Public consultations and further technical studies are expected as the city moves toward a final decision.
If adopted, the tunnel would represent a significant change to the landscape of the Rosemont neighbourhood, altering the visual profile of the area and potentially affecting traffic patterns. The proposal reflects the municipality's broader efforts to modernize aging infrastructure and improve safety for both motorists and railway users.