On-ramp on hold for spring temperatures

A much anticipated $3 million highway on-ramp project expected to give Vaudreuil-Dorion and St. Lazare commuters more convenient access to Hwy. 40 east is slated be ready for use by early June, confirmed Transport Quebec this week.

The new access ramp, located in Vaudreuil-Dorion, should help save a few minutes from commute times for people driving toward Montreal each day.

As snow levels slowly dissipated this week, the ramp, coated with a layer of temporary paving, appears to be close to completion.

Transport Quebec spokesperson Julie Morin cautioned that while the newly created passage is now connected to Hwy. 40 east, the project is on hold while crews wait for “truly spring-like temperatures,” in order to complete final paving.

“You could not drive on (the ramp) now,” Morin said.

Though the thoroughfare was slated to open in January of this year, early snow storms beginning last November delayed work.

Crews began installing street lights along the ramp last month, but the final paving work, as well as landscaping, is expected to begin only by mid-May.

The $3 million three-part road project also included the repaving of exit #26 (off of route Harwood/route 342) in both directions. That work was completed last fall.

Meanwhile, Vaudreuil-Dorion’s town council recently passed a resolution seeking provincial approval to install a new off-ramp from Hwy. 40 West. If approved, the ramp would allow some local commuters to bypass exit #26 altogether and use a ramp that would lead them directly onto ch. Daoust/ ave. Bedard.