The day after announcing the CAQ government's refusal to take up the petition signed by more than 16,200 signatories demanding, as soon as possible, the completion of Highway 20 between Île Perrot and Vaudreuil-Dorion, the Caquist MNA for Soulanges, Marilyne Picard, assures us that work is continuing and that the study of solutions is still underway.

“The government did not seize the petition because the solution study work is already underway,” she told Néomédia Vaudreuil-Soulanges. “The study is scheduled for completion in winter 2025. In addition, numerous technical meetings will be held in the coming months between elected officials and the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable. In fact, Minister Guilbault's office met (Thursday) with the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC to discuss a number of issues, including Highway 20, and the willingness to collaborate was reiterated... The work continues,” added Ms. Picard.

On September 12, Marie-Claude Nichols, independent Member of Parliament for Vaudreuil, tabled two petitions in the Salon rouge, one electronic and the other paper, initiated by committed citizens and totalling over 16,200 signatures.

When the petitions were tabled, the initiators were present in the galleries of the National Assembly and were able to take part in the press conference given by the MNA.

I'm disappointed that the CAQ is closing the door on a real discussion of this solution,” she says. Committed citizens came to the National Assembly to send a cry from the heart to the government. Thousands of people asked their government to intervene, but the response was that it didn't even want to talk about it. This is unacceptable,” lamented Marie-Claude Nichols.

For her part, Marilyne Picard reiterates the importance of the issue.

“It's an important issue for our region and I can say that things are moving forward. I'm following the file very closely with my colleague, Minister Geneviève Guilbault. I think it's important to remember that the Vaudreuil-Soulanges MRC area is also affected by the maintenance of the Île-aux-Tourtes bridge and the construction of the new bridge. Our government's objective is clear and precise: we want to prioritize and deliver this project, which has been put aside for too long by previous governments,” adds Marilyne Picard.

Residential neighborhoods taken hostage

Neighborhoods that have always been quiet and ideal for families have been transformed into transit lanes for many motorists, who try to avoid rush-hour traffic by cutting through these small streets. The daily lives of residents are thus disrupted by heavy traffic and the impatience of time-saving motorists.

“Parents live with the fear that their children will be seriously injured by a car on the way to school,” she laments. Some families have even forbidden their children to play field hockey in the street or pedal to school to make sure they're safe. It's not normal that we've reached this point,” laments the MP for Vaudreuil.

According to Marie-Claude Nichols, journeys that should take 15 minutes or less now take over an hour. “People are continually late for work, daycare, school and appointments, which causes constant stress. The MNA is concerned about the effect this state of stress is having on the population,” she said in a press release.

For the independent MNA, the status quo is impossible. “There are solutions and they must be implemented quickly, starting with the extension of Highway 20. I'm asking the CAQ to act before it's too late. We can't turn a blind eye to this situation, which is now one of safety for our citizens.”

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