Architectural, Engineering Competition Seeks To Find New Design For Van Horne-Rosemont Overpass; City Mayor Questions Projet Montreal Proposal

Van Horne-Rosemont overpass that connects Van Horne Ave. and Rosemont Blvd. between Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie and Plateau-Mont Royal will be replaced. This was announced by the city, following plans to hold an engineering and architectural competition that seeks for a new design for  the structure.

The Van Horne-Rosemont overpass is set to require a replacement, as the city is considering changing the design of the structure. According to a city executive committee member named Lionel Perez, who released a statement on Sunday, the change of design is aimed at making the structure appear more "human scale." Perez further noted that the new Van Horne-Rosemont overpass would leave more space for pedestrians and bikes, including the green space.

This Van Horne-Rosemont design competition is set to launch this year, while the winning concept will be chosen in 2017. Meantime, the said competition is also expected to find a design that will redo the Rosemont Blvd. between St-Hubert and St-Dennis Sts., Montreal Gazette reported.

Meanwhile, the mayor of the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough and also a city councillor with Projet Montreal, François Croteau, believes that the announcement about the redesign plant would be a good news for the borough, including the adjacent Plateau-Mont-Royal borough. However, the mayor also revealed that the project came as a surprise.

The Van Horne-Rosemont overpass project, according to the mayor, has been proposed by Projet Montreal in the two boroughs, however, there was no consultation made to both boroughs before the project was announced last Sunday. The mayor also adds that it is now unclear if the project was only improvised.

As the Van Horne-Rosemont overpass project is now being questioned, the mayor expresses his concerns about the issue, including the fate of the skate park under the overpass. Incidentally, the park is  also being planned to be built this summer, CBC reported.