On Tuesday, November 28, members of the Rigaud municipal council inaugurated the completion of phase 1 of the Hôtel-de-Ville, Sainte-Madeleine, Gérard-Chicoine and Levac street reconstruction project, the overall aim of which is to replace all underground pipes dating back to the 1950s.

This first phase received $1,720,000 in financial assistance from the Quebec government as part of its 2019-2023 Gas Tax and Quebec Contribution Program (TECQ), and will benefit from greening, permanent markings and an additional layer of bituminous pavement in spring 2024.

"We are very proud of the completion of the first phase of this important project," said Mayor Marie-Claude Frigault. "Not only is it essential to maintain and invest in our infrastructure, but it's also important to do so from a sustainable development perspective. In all our projects, we have to think about our families, our children and how they get around. Active transportation must be at the heart of our decisions, and our teams are working hard to implement the vision of our elected officials," adds the mayor.

In this first phase, several interventions were carried out, including the complete excavation of Sainte-Madeleine and Gérard-Chicoine streets, the replacement of the aqueduct and sanitary sewer, the installation of a rainwater network, the replacement of fire hydrants, new street foundations, the construction and widening of sidewalks from 1.2 metres to 1.5 metres and the addition of curbs,

A raised intersection at the corner of rue Sainte-Madeleine and rue Gérard-Chicoine was also installed, along with two additional parking lanes.

The first phase was completed with a change of signage prohibiting parking on rue Gérard-Chicoine and a one-way eastbound traffic flow on rue Sainte-Madeleine.

The new configuration is in line with the elected officials' concern to ease traffic congestion, increase personal safety and prioritize active transportation and sustainable mobility on the territory.

A bicycle path on rue de l'Hôtel de Ville and additional bus stops are finally envisaged in the second phase of the project. Plans and specifications are scheduled for 2024-2025, subject to additional financial assistance from the TECQ.