Quebec Autoroute 15
Encyclopedia
Autoroute 15 is a highway
in western Quebec
, Canada
. It was, until May 2011, the only constructed north-south autoroute to go out of Montreal on both sides. A-15 begins at the end of Interstate 87
at the United States
border at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle
to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
with an eventual continuation beyond Mont-Tremblant. The total length of A-15 is currently 164 km (101.9 mi), including a short concurrency (4 km (2.5 mi)) with Autoroute 40 (Boulevard/Autoroute Métropolitan) that connects the two main sections. This is one of the few autoroutes in Quebec that does not have any spinoff highways.
The southern section of A-15 connects the south shore
suburbs of Montreal
and is also the primary trade corridor route between Montreal & New York City linking Quebec Autoroute 15 to Interstate 87
at the Canada-United States border. This was the former Route 9, and connected with US 9 on the western shore of Lake Champlain
. In Brossard
, it joins up with A-10
and A-20
across the Champlain Bridge
into Montreal. The A-10 splits off almost immediately after crossing the bridge to head into downtown Montreal at the Bonaventure Expressway and the A-20 splits off shortly after at the Turcot Interchange
(échangeur Turcot), leaving the A-15 to continue northward as Autoroute Décarie until the Décarie Interchange
(échangeur Décarie) with the A-40 at the point where it turns from the Trans-Canada into the Metropolitan Expressway.
The route is also connected to Autoroute 30
in Candiac
which will be completed to Autoroute 20
in 2009 providing a quicker access to the south shore of Montreal, to southern communities located alongside Autoroute 15 and to the US-Canadian border in Lacolle
. It will also give a quicker access from there to areas west of Montreal and also Ottawa
and Gatineau
.
The Autoroute Décarie is a sunken highway between the northbound and southbound lanes of Décarie Boulevard (hence the name); from boulevard Métropolitain
at its northern end to Monkland Avenue and the Villa Maria Metro station
at its southern end. It was built on a wide expanse of vacant land, donated to the City by the Décarie estate on the condition that only a streetcar line be established. The decommissioning of the streetcar system in 1959 left the right-of-way as an obvious choice for a highway, and so the Décarie Autoroute was dug there. South of Queen Mary Road, however, were a significant number of houses which were demolished. In order to avoid demolishing the Notre-Dame-de-Grâces church, the highway makes a slight westerly jog below Côte-Saint-Luc Road and runs through a short tunnel
, before emerging between Addington and Botrel Streets and running down to Sherbrooke Street
and Saint Jacques Street
, where it spectacularly goes from below-ground to well above ground as it intersects with Autoroutes 20
and 720
in the infamous Turcot Interchange
(dubbed "Spaghetti Junction
" by train crews operating the former CN Rail Turcot Yard). Following the conversion from streetcar line to highway, the Décarie Estate unsuccessfully sued the city but was unable to prevail because they did not document their case well enough for the nevertheless sympathetic court.
This part of the highway was the site of a spectacular event on the 14th of July 1987. During the Montreal Flood of 1987
, over 100 mm fell over the central part of the Montreal island and a large part of it ended up in the sunken highway, transforming it into a river. One person died from drowning.
Decarie Boulevard itself continues from Monkland Avenue south to Saint Jacques Street and from Autoroute 40
north into Ville Saint-Laurent
past Du College Station
and Côte-Vertu Station
/Norgate shopping centre
. It is considered by some to be Montreal's historically worst urban planning fiascos.
Autoroute (Quebec)
The Autoroute system is a network of expressways in the province of Quebec, Canada, operating under the same principle of controlled access as the Interstate Highway System in the United States or the 400-Series Highways in neighbouring Ontario. The Autoroutes are the backbone of Quebec's highway...
in western Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It was, until May 2011, the only constructed north-south autoroute to go out of Montreal on both sides. A-15 begins at the end of Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
at the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
border at Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle
Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec
Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle is a municipality in Les Jardins-de-Napierville Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada, located in the administrative area of Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,537. Saint-Bernard-de-Lacolle was established officially in 1855...
to Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts
Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec
Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts is a town in the province of Quebec in the regional county municipality of Les Laurentides, in the administrative region of Laurentides, also known as the "Laurentians" or the Laurentian Mountains...
with an eventual continuation beyond Mont-Tremblant. The total length of A-15 is currently 164 km (101.9 mi), including a short concurrency (4 km (2.5 mi)) with Autoroute 40 (Boulevard/Autoroute Métropolitan) that connects the two main sections. This is one of the few autoroutes in Quebec that does not have any spinoff highways.
Southern section
South Shore (Montreal)
The South Shore is the general term for the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec located on the southern shore of the Saint Lawrence River opposite the Island of Montreal. The South Shore is located within the Quebec administrative region of Montérégie....
suburbs of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and is also the primary trade corridor route between Montreal & New York City linking Quebec Autoroute 15 to Interstate 87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
at the Canada-United States border. This was the former Route 9, and connected with US 9 on the western shore of Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain is a natural, freshwater lake in North America, located mainly within the borders of the United States but partially situated across the Canada—United States border in the Canadian province of Quebec.The New York portion of the Champlain Valley includes the eastern portions of...
. In Brossard
Brossard, Quebec
Brossard is a suburban area, located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River, opposite the island and city of Montreal.Brossard is subdivided into many smaller sections. These sections are characterized by having street names that all begin with the same letter of the alphabet...
, it joins up with A-10
Quebec Autoroute 10
Autoroute 10 is an Autoroute in southern Quebec, Canada...
and A-20
Quebec Autoroute 20
Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec...
across the Champlain Bridge
Champlain Bridge (Montreal)
The Champlain Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge with approach viaducts constructed of prestressed concrete beams supporting a prestressed concrete deck paved with asphalt...
into Montreal. The A-10 splits off almost immediately after crossing the bridge to head into downtown Montreal at the Bonaventure Expressway and the A-20 splits off shortly after at the Turcot Interchange
Turcot Interchange
The Turcot Interchange is a freeway interchange within the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that links Autoroutes 15, 20, and 720. It takes its name from the currently-abandoned Turcot rail yards over which it is built....
(échangeur Turcot), leaving the A-15 to continue northward as Autoroute Décarie until the Décarie Interchange
Decarie Interchange
The Decarie Interchange is an expressway interchange on the Island of Montreal. It connects the Decarie Expressway heading South, the "Met" or Metropolitan Expressway heading East and West, Marcel-Laurin Boulevard heading North, and Boulevard Décarie heading North...
(échangeur Décarie) with the A-40 at the point where it turns from the Trans-Canada into the Metropolitan Expressway.
The route is also connected to Autoroute 30
Quebec Autoroute 30
Autoroute 30 is a superhighway in Quebec, Canada.There are three segments currently open for travel:...
in Candiac
Candiac, Quebec
Candiac is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in the Canadian province of Quebec; it is located on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River opposite Montreal near La Prairie...
which will be completed to Autoroute 20
Quebec Autoroute 20
Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec...
in 2009 providing a quicker access to the south shore of Montreal, to southern communities located alongside Autoroute 15 and to the US-Canadian border in Lacolle
Lacolle, Quebec
Lacolle is a municipality in southern Quebec, Canada located in the administrative area of the Montérégie. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 2,512...
. It will also give a quicker access from there to areas west of Montreal and also Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Gatineau
Gatineau
Gatineau is a city in western Quebec, Canada. It is the fourth largest city in the province. It is located on the northern banks of the Ottawa River, immediately across from Ottawa, Ontario, and together they form Canada's National Capital Region. Ottawa and Gatineau comprise a single Census...
.
Autoroute Décarie
- Autoroute Décarie, Décarie Autoroute, Décarie Expressway, Quebec Route 9 and Décarie Boulevard redirect here.
The Autoroute Décarie is a sunken highway between the northbound and southbound lanes of Décarie Boulevard (hence the name); from boulevard Métropolitain
Quebec Autoroute 40
Autoroute 40 is a major highway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It is one of the two main connections between Montreal and Quebec City...
at its northern end to Monkland Avenue and the Villa Maria Metro station
Villa-Maria (Montreal Metro)
Villa-Maria is a station on the Orange Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce area of the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in Montreal, Quebec, Canada .- Overview :The station is a...
at its southern end. It was built on a wide expanse of vacant land, donated to the City by the Décarie estate on the condition that only a streetcar line be established. The decommissioning of the streetcar system in 1959 left the right-of-way as an obvious choice for a highway, and so the Décarie Autoroute was dug there. South of Queen Mary Road, however, were a significant number of houses which were demolished. In order to avoid demolishing the Notre-Dame-de-Grâces church, the highway makes a slight westerly jog below Côte-Saint-Luc Road and runs through a short tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
, before emerging between Addington and Botrel Streets and running down to Sherbrooke Street
Sherbrooke Street
Sherbrooke Street is a major east-west artery and at in length, is the second longest street on the Island of Montreal. The street begins in the town of Montreal West and ends on the extreme tip of the island in Pointe-aux-Trembles, intersecting Gouin Boulevard and joining up with Notre-Dame...
and Saint Jacques Street
Saint Jacques Street
Saint Jacques Street is a major street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The street has had two official names: St. James Street in English after St. James's, London; and its current appellation, rue Saint-Jacques, in French. Both names are sometimes used in English, though Saint-Jacques is the most...
, where it spectacularly goes from below-ground to well above ground as it intersects with Autoroutes 20
Quebec Autoroute 20
Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec...
and 720
Quebec Autoroute 720
Autoroute 720 , known as the Ville-Marie Expressway or Autoroute Ville-Marie is an Autoroute highway in the Canadian province of Quebec that is a spur route of Autoroute 20 in Montreal...
in the infamous Turcot Interchange
Turcot Interchange
The Turcot Interchange is a freeway interchange within the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, that links Autoroutes 15, 20, and 720. It takes its name from the currently-abandoned Turcot rail yards over which it is built....
(dubbed "Spaghetti Junction
Spaghetti Junction
"Spaghetti Junction" is a nickname sometimes given to a complicated or massively intertwined road traffic interchange that resembles a plate of spaghetti. The term is believed to have been coined by a journalist at the Birmingham Evening Mail in the 1970s to refer to the Gravelly Hill Interchange...
" by train crews operating the former CN Rail Turcot Yard). Following the conversion from streetcar line to highway, the Décarie Estate unsuccessfully sued the city but was unable to prevail because they did not document their case well enough for the nevertheless sympathetic court.
This part of the highway was the site of a spectacular event on the 14th of July 1987. During the Montreal Flood of 1987
Montreal Flood of 1987
The Montreal Flood of 1987 happened on July 14 of that year when a series of strong thunderstorms crossed the island of Montreal, Canada, between the noon hour and 2:30 p.m. Over 100 mm of rain fell during this very short period of time. The sewer systems were overwhelmed by the deluge and the...
, over 100 mm fell over the central part of the Montreal island and a large part of it ended up in the sunken highway, transforming it into a river. One person died from drowning.
Decarie Boulevard itself continues from Monkland Avenue south to Saint Jacques Street and from Autoroute 40
Quebec Autoroute 40
Autoroute 40 is a major highway on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, Canada. It is one of the two main connections between Montreal and Quebec City...
north into Ville Saint-Laurent
Saint-Laurent, Quebec
Saint-Laurent is a former city on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada. It is now the largest in area of the boroughs of the city of Montreal....
past Du College Station
Du Collège (Montreal Metro)
Du Collège is a station on Orange Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the borough of Saint-Laurent in Montreal, Quebec, Canada ....
and Côte-Vertu Station
Côte-Vertu (Montreal Metro)
Côte-Vertu is a station on the Orange Line of the Montreal Metro rapid transit system, operated by the Société de transport de Montréal . It is located in the borough of Saint-Laurent in Montreal, Quebec, Canada ....
/Norgate shopping centre
Norgate shopping centre
Norgate shopping centre is a strip mall built in 1949, in the then-suburb of Saint-Laurent, Quebec, now the Saint-Laurent borough of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-History:...
. It is considered by some to be Montreal's historically worst urban planning fiascos.