A new row of tall, golden poles installed outside the Olympic Stadium has caught the public’s attention — and not all of it is positive. The 42 poles, each standing 18 metres tall — roughly the height of a six-storey building — were placed in the median of Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue in early July. According to the City of Montreal, they will eventually be topped with lights. But those aren’t the point, said city spokesperson Hugo Bourgoin. “These decorative poles have no functional role in street lighting,” he told CTV News. “They are meant to highlight the importance and special status of the location.” The project’s visual statement, however, hasn’t been well-received by everyone. Some residents say the gleaming structures are an eyesore. Alexandre Martinez, a resident of Laval, described them simply as “ugly,” adding that: “This is money badly spent on a structure we don’t even know will last.” For Michigan tourist Julie Apker, the design seems more confusing than anything. “They remind me of those billiards cue sticks,” she said. “They’re not as beautiful as other parts of the city I’ve seen so far.” Others were blunter. Montrealer Pablo Molina Le felt the $670,000 price tag — before taxes — was a poor use of funds. “They’re wasting our money on stupid things,” he said. Joel Tremblay, also from Laval, said he didn’t think the poles suited Montreal’s character at all and believed the city should remove them entirely. A larger redesign project The decorative masts are just one piece of a much broader redesign of Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, a project that began in 2019 following years of planning and a public consultation process. The overhaul aimed to slow traffic, reduce vehicle flow and increase greenery along the busy road. It included wider sidewalks, a new raised bike lane, and the planting of 120 new trees. Bourgoin said that, with some time, these additions will bring the design together. “The trees will eventually reach a height that will not only offer canopy to cool the street but also balance the scale of the lampposts,” he explained. The redesign hasn’t been without controversy. Earlier this summer, CTV News reported on complaints about a slight height difference between the sidewalk and bike path. The uneven design led to concerns about safety, with at least one fall reported to the city. Questions of aesthetics and priorities While city officials argue the poles were always intended as a symbolic design element rather than a practical source of light, some say this would’ve benefited residents and passersby. “We need light here,” said Dennis Riendeau, a resident who lives directly on the avenue. “The current lighting doesn’t even reach the sidewalks.” Riendeau recalled an instance last winter when a neighbour injured himself and wasn’t found until hours later. “People walking past him just couldn’t see him,” he said. Despite the criticism, the city is standing by its decision, emphasizing that the poles are part of a long-term vision for the street.
