Major road closures ahead of the UCI Road World Championships are prompting mixed reactions from Montreal businesses, with some worried about losing customers and deliveries while others are preparing for an influx of pedestrians. The closures are already impacting businesses along some of the affected routes. At Monas, a restaurant equipment store on Park Avenue, co-owner Marika Moshonas said business appeared slower Friday, with concerns about how customers will access the store as the restrictions expand. “Our clients need access because they come to purchase for their businesses and often come here with trucks,” she explained, pointing to bulky equipment being sold in her store. “We receive a lot of deliveries as well.” Park Avenue is scheduled to be closed between Pine Avenue and Mount Royal Avenue for about a month, beginning Friday, as the city prepares for the cycling events. Major arteries including Park Avenue, Notre-Dame Street and Berri Street will be affected, while dozens of local streets in multiple neighbourhoods will be restricted to local traffic. The UCI Road World Championships are scheduled from Sept. 20 to 27. For Moshonas, concerns don’t necessarily lie with commercial streets being closed during the event itself. “To close them for a week-long event, and an extra week before and after, that’s quite extensive,” she added. But not every merchant is worried about the impact — with some seeing it as an opportunity to bring in customers. Stéphane François, owner of catering business Le Traiteur La Gamelle, said he is optimistic about the crowds expected for the events. “I’m very positive and very excited. It’s exciting for businesses, and it’s also a good thing for Montreal,” he said. François explained he is even adapting his menu to offer ready-to-eat products that will be quick and easy for event attendees to buy. What happens in an emergency? The closures are also raising questions about emergency access, particularly for residents inside areas blocked off to traffic. Urgences-santé spokesperson Geneviève Poirier said dedicated resources are being deployed to ensure paramedics can respond. “We will have two dedicated ambulance crews, as well as paramedics on bicycles,” she said. “We also have a team that will be in a small, more agile vehicle to navigate streets that may be hard to access.” Poirier said the measures are intended to ensure there are no delays in responding to calls from residents in areas that are difficult to access. Hugo Bourgoin, the City of Montreal spokesperson, told CTV News that the various emergency service responders are working closely to coordinate. He added that residents in the affected areas have all received the relevant information regarding street closures and parking restrictions. The City is encouraging people to plan their trips and use public transit or active transportation when possible. With over two weeks before the international sporting championship kicks off, the overall economic impact of the event on local businesses will only become clear after the races are over.
