Final phase of Bonaventure demolition begins on Canada Day

CTV Montreal: Bonaventure demolition continues The next phase of the demolition of the Bonaventure Expressway begins with its closure into downtown.

Drivers will not be able to use the Bonaventure Expressway to get into town on the Canada Day long weekend.

The inbound lanes will be closed as of 10 p.m. Friday July 1 as crews start the final phase of the highway's demolition.

Over the weekend traffic coming into the city will be diverted at Exit No. 2 (Pierre Dupuy Ave.) and instructed to detour along Riverside St., Mill St., and De La Commune St.

As of Monday July 4 the Bonaventure will be closed in both directions from De la Commune to Notre Dame St.

The access to the Bonaventure from the westbound Ville Marie Tunnel is also closed.

Drivers coming into town will face the same detour, while those leaving Montreal will be on Nazareth St. with a counterflow lane for the afternoon rush hour on Duke St. at Wellington St.

Duke and Nazareth have been expanded to four and five lanes respectively, and other changes are in place to deal with rush hour traffic.

The work to transform the Bonaventure and into an urban boulevard began in 2011, with the demolition starting in 2015.

Once the project is finished next year a ramp will lead towards the new boulevard, which will take drivers from the Champlain Bridge over the Lachine Canal and into the city.

The plan also includes green space and an urban park.