Lakeview Street widening project dividing Hudson residents

Lakeview Street in Hudson, Que. is in dire need of repair, but residents are divided on a proposal to widen it.

With its cracks, patches and network of potholes, everyone in the Town of Hudson would agree that Lakeview Street is in dire need of repair.

“If you have a choice, sometimes you’ll avoid it because it’s so bad,” said Lakeview resident Christine Cousineau.

Cousineau said she and her neighbours were aware that the road was due to be repaved, but they only found out a month ago the extent of the plan, which would include a bike path and a drainage ditch, nearly doubling the width of the road from six to 11.5 metres.

“That wouldn’t be horrible in another situation,” she said. “But here on this road, it makes absolutely no sense. And in order to accomplish this, they’re going to have to cut down trees.”

Her neighbour, Gilles Stratti, said he was made aware of the project when town inspectors came to his front lawn. He said widening the road would mean losing the 100-year-old maple tree that towers over his property line. He said the project also includes adding benches and garbage cans along the 800-metre-long street, something that would change the nature of the quiet neighbourhood.

“What we do know is 90 per cent at least of the people in Lakeview disapprove of it because, again, you’re doubling the size of the street, you’re tearing down all trees, and all hedges, and that’s just going to hurt the character,” he said, adding that it could also impact property values down the line.

On Sunday, Stratti was among a large group of residents who marched along the street to protest the project, ending their march at the Town Hall. They tied bright coloured ribbons to the trees and shrubs that were in danger and posted signs urging an end to the street-widening plan.

While the opposition has been vocal, Mayor Chloe Hutchinson said there are just as many supporters of the project.

“Those who are in support of the project don’t feel comfortable speaking out online. They don’t even feel comfortable coming to the microphone because they know they will be booed,” she said. “It’s a small town, and we all know someone. It’s a family member, it’s a neighbour. It’s very uncomfortable to sit on different sides of a decision.”

She said the town has already been approved for the $2 million federal grant but that it comes with the condition that there must be a multi-use path. She said new provincial laws require the drainage strip, and combining the two projects made sense. She added that repaving the road, which would be cheaper than the estimated $4 million project, isn’t an option since the road’s foundations need to be rebuilt.

“Even if we were to redo just the surface, in five to eight years, that surface would be back to where it is now,” said Hutchinson.

She said while environmental inspectors assessed that 18 trees would need to be removed in the process, the plan is to replant 91 trees and replace other shrubs and bushes.

A vote will be held at the next council meeting on Monday, June 16, to award the contract. If passed, Hutchinson said work could begin this year.