I, like many people, am anxious to see the new Shell gas station, complete with a car wash and Bonisoir covenience store, open for business at the corner of Cavendish Boulevard and Mackle Road. It seems like a very long time since the Esso self-serve shut down. It took many months for digging and decontamination to take place and then came the construction for the new facility.
The facility as it looks now.
To the naked eye, it looks as if the facility is ready to open. But not so. First they require Hydro-Québec to install underground electrical conduits crossing Cavendish at the intersection of Mackle to supply the proper voltage of power. This will result in some short term pain, for long term gain.
Beginning April 18, the Cavendish and Mackle intersection will be closed completely for at least 10 working days in order to complete the work. Our Urban Development and Public Affairs teams will implement a communications plans to advise all residents in the immediate area of alternative routes. This will include automated phone calls to residents affected, signage and information disseminated via social media.
The goal will be to give motorists a heads-up on day one so they can give themselves more time. By day two, we hope people can adapt — regardless of whether they heard the phone call or saw any of the signs in advance.
We all wish this could have been avoided, but in order to speed up the start of this new facility we need to respond to their request.
The work is expected to be completed by Friday, April 29 weather permitting. The contractor will not be working on Passover (April 22, 23 and 24). Hydro's contractor, Telecon, will carry out the installation of the underground conduits as well as the permanent repairs to the roadway. Cavendish will be closed in both directions at the intersection of Mackle and the contractor will have two crews in place whenever possible to accelerate the work.
Information signs will be installed on Thursday, April 14 by Hydro regarding the road closure. Cavendish will be closed between Mackle and The Avenue, except for local traffic. Detours will be put in place as of Monday, April 18 via Marc Chagall for both north bound (at Kildare) and south bound (at Mackle) and flagmen will be on site for the first two days to ensure proper traffic management. Provisions will be made to allow access to local northbound traffic for City Hall and the Library drop-off zone, as well as for 5875 Cavendish.
An information campaign to inform residents and the local apartments/condos will be carried out by the city's Communication Department.
