Bonaventure Expressway makeover includes new park, art and walkways

The City of Montreal has officially unveiled a new look for the stretch of road leading into the Bonaventure Expressway, includinggreen space, walkways and a work of art.

The esthetic overhaul is part of the city's $140-million project announced in 2014to replace a stretch of the expressway and turn it into an urban boulevard in time for Montreal's 375th anniversary.

Montreal Mayor DenisCoderrecalled the newconfigurationa "major transport route that is modern, durable and well-integrated in the urban milieu" at the inauguration on Wednesday.

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The now-demolished expressway into Montreal has become two boulevards with a total of nine ground-level lanes that leadinto Robert-Bourassa Boulevard.

With the addition of a park dividing the boulevardand corridors forpedestrians, Coderre called it a "grand entrance for a grand city."

There is also a streel structure work of art by international artist Jaume Plensa, that will be there for a minimum of 25 years.

For her part, Projet Montral leader Valrie Plante said that while there is a need for green space in the Griffintown area, she was critical of placing a park in the middle of an urban boulevard.

"Making a park in the middle of an autoroute, we really doubt we are meeting the needs of families and people in the area," said Plante.