Montreal’s Ste-Catherine Street about to undergo massive overhaul
MONTREAL — Beginning on Monday, Montreal’s famous Ste-Catherine Street and the merchants along the busy commercial artery will be subjected to a familiar rite of passage in the metropolis: a major construction overhaul.
A 2.2-kilometre stretch of road will be transformed between Atwater Avenue, the historic former address of the old Montreal Forum, all the way east to the entrance of the entertainment district, where locals and tourists enjoy jazz, comedy and music festivals.
The construction is needed primarily to replace the roughly 100-year-old underground infrastructure, but the city also plans to use the opportunity to expand sidewalks, plant more trees and offer free Wi-Fi access along the commercial strip.
Montreal’s new city administration also promises things will be done differently from previous municipal governments.