In 2019, work on the REM progressed at an impressive pace. Pillars for parts of the elevated structure were put up in Pointe-Sainte-Charles and the West Island, launching gantries ‘Marie’ and ‘Anne’ rolled forward, lifting and placing huge concrete segments to complete 94 spans of the structure along Highway 40 and parts for the Tunnel Boring Machine arrived in Montreal and will soon be in action digging a tunnel to Montreal-Trudeau airport. There was also the excavation for the 60-metre deep underground Edouard-Montpetit station downtown that kept work crews busy and the first 2 kilometres of tracks were installed along Hwy 10, with significant progress being made on nine stations in the South Shore. The year ended with the REM’s maintenance centre in Saint-Eustache being completed – and the announcement of the Mount-Royal tunnel work being postponed until the end of next March. With close to 20 construction sites underway across Montreal’s metropolitan region, what can be expected in 2020? Although some of the work is subject to change based on discussions with partners involved in the project, here is the REM outline of work for 2020:
REM South Shore progress
The most ambitious and exciting part of project in the new year will be the first test of the system on a 3.5km section of the line between the Rive-Sud station and Milan Boulevard in the Fall of 2020. Other work on the South Shore includes the following:
– Continued construction of the Rive-Sud and Du Quartier stations and their related infrastructure.
– New phase of work at Panama station and the future bus terminal.
– Continued installation of the track and electrical system in the centre of Highway 10.
– Continuation of work on the central span of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge.
REM Montreal downtown progress
– Construction of ÃŽle-des-SÅ“urs station and channel bridge.
– Continued construction of the elevated structure, installation of tracks and electrical system in Pointe-Saint-Charles.
– Continuation of rehabilitation work on the railway overpass, replacement of railway tracks in Griffintown.
– Central Station: Replacement of electrical and mechanical systems, creation of entrance to the concourse, construction of the central platform.
– McGill: Work to connect the station and the Mont-Royal Tunnel, start of platform construction, installation of electrical and mechanical systems in nearby buildings.
– Edouard-Montpetit: Work to connect the station to the Mont-Royal Tunnel, start of construction of platforms and station.
REM Deux-Montagnes line progress
– As of March 30, 2020: Train service suspension between Central Station and Du Ruisseau station.
– Excavation work and replacement of existing railway tracks in the Mont-Royal Tunnel.
– Dismantling of the catenary and removal of the tracks between Central Station and Du Ruisseau station.
– Construction of steel structures and roofs at Canora, Mont-Royal, A40 and Bois-Franc stations.
– Opening of construction sites at Du Ruisseau and Montpellier stations.
– Engineering works: Demolition and reconstruction of the Jean-Talon and Cornwall bridges, continued work on the Riviere-des-Prairies bridges.
REM West Island Stations
– Continuation of work on the elevated structure: Construction of pillars, production of segments, installation of tracks on the deck.
– Construction work begins on Pointe-Claire and Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue stations.
– Winter/Spring 2020: Departure of Alice, the tunnel-boring machine, from the Technoparc to the airport.
– Spring 2020: Resumption of activities of the two launching beams, Anne and Marie (suspended all winter).
Check in with the Montreal Times for news and updates on the REM project this year!
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