Montreal roadwork raising questions

Frequent roadwork on certain Montreal streets have raised questions on the necessity and quality of the work and the contracts handed out for it.

A Montreal Gazette investigation found that the city gave contracts for work on Notre Dame Street East three times in eight years.

Estimated values of the work on Notre Dame East and Cote Des Neiges Road were released by the city before bidding began.

Details about the work were hidden from the council and the public.

The removal and pavement of asphalt on the high traffic roads occurred inside of one to six years.

Other major Canadian cities estimate that their roadwork on high traffic roads lasts between fifteen to twenty years.

Testimony at the Charbonneau Commission revealed that collusion existed among construction companies bidding for contracts.

The extensive findings detail who the city manager and executive committee awarded contracts to, the length of road worked, and contract values.

The city told the Gazette that it is looking into their findings.

Flickr Photo by: chrisjtse

STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU