By a "natural link" I simply mean something on ground level that allows pedestrian and/or bike access between the areas - Turcot is just way too big to just let a freeway hog it all up and the plan they have just leaves too much room for a total collapse of all green space ideas for the area unless they get rid of Notre Dame street altogether which won't happen.

I am not a bike activist but having a world class bike event in Montreal along the lines of the Grand Prix or Jazz Festival would certainly bring in a huge steady flow of tourist bucks. Using a strand or two of the old Turcot Interchange would add instant uniqueness to any potential route. It would be nice to see someone get that going.

There exists on the Falaise some paved road for a bike path that had been started in the 80's . A connection to the canal from there seems too obvious to be considered.

And on it goes, great ideas are being shared all over the city but who is listening?

Neath

It seems to me the falaise was identified as one of the last natural growth areas. This should be preserved, and one of the best ways of doing is, unfortunately, is to *not* turn it into a park. Look at the environmental damage the park on Mount Royal suffers from nothing worse than footfalls. One thing that should be taken into consideration, however, is the impact that air pollution from the autoroute would have on the plant-life on the falaise.

I's like to see something along the lines of BLTA's design, perhaps also with some recreation of the petite rivière Saint-Pierre to meet Lachine canal. Personally I'd envision something with more residential housing, but Montreal is in need of greenspace.

@Neath: a "natural link"? It's a bluff. It's a natural barrier! And the hospital is on the other side of Décarie and Turcot; it won't be any more linked than before.

However, I'm all for some aspect of the interchange being preserved in an artistic interpretation. Something along the lines of what Toronto did with the east end of the Gardner expressway, or even the artwork under the start of Quebec City's autoroute 440. And I agree that the autoroute should remain elevated (though certainly not as high as today) at least until it's over the canal and ideally until de la Vérendrye.

I would also prefer that the Turcot Interchange remain elevated. The interesting thing about elevated freeways, their raison d'etre actually, is that things can pass under them. The plan they have now would almost completely cut off Saint Henri from whatever happens there - residents would have to risk walking along the train tracks to get over.

My wackiest ideas category: If the Turcot Interchange has to come down I would like to see at least one strand of it preserved. It would make one hell of a bike path and without motor vehicles on it would last forever. Also elevated freeways are architecture and as such can be considered to be art and these very sculptural works should be preserved under the notions of cultural heritage. There! I 've said it, :P!