Construction of the Michel-Ange auxiliary building
- Construction site summary
- Impact on customer trips
- Impact on local residents
- Learn more about the project
- Onglet 5
Construction site summary
As part of the Blue line project, this worksite involves building a new operational infrastructure required to operate the métro.
Start of work: We plan to start work in late April 2025.
Description of the work: New building construction.
parlons·en
Public information session - Michel-Ange auxiliary building
In late April 2025, construction will begin on a new auxiliary building in Michel-Ange Park. This information session is a great opportunity to learn more about this métro infrastructure being built in your area, how the worksite will be set up, and what happens next.
Attend in person
Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
Join online
Friday, April 25, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
Impact on customer trips
No impact on customer trips.
Impact on local residents
At the end of April 2025, construction of a new auxiliary building will begin in Michel-Ange Park. The construction zone needed to complete this work will take up the park’s entire surface area. In order to complete the various stages of the project, the work will be spread out over several years.
March and April 2025 – Worksite preparation
Before the start of the construction work, various punctual activities need to be completed in Michel-Ange Park.
This includes removing some trees, that were cut down in late March, to clear space for the construction site. This had to be done before the start of spring, when birds begin building their nests.
Our team of forest engineers, landscape architects, urban planners, and sustainable development expert carefully planned these interventions to preserve as much vegetation as possible.
Ultimately, Blue line project sites will be revegetated and several hundred new trees planted, for a stronger, healthier canopy.
In Michel-Ange Park, a new tree will be planted for every one that is removed. The park will also be completely redeveloped by the end of the work.
Late April 2025 – Preliminary work
There will be about four weeks of preparatory work, in two phases, starting in late April.
Pedestrian traffic
During both phases of the preparatory work:
- The sidewalks running along Michel-Ange Park will be closed on 17th Avenue and Michel‑Ange Street.
- Pedestrians will be able to use the sidewalk on the other side of the street.
- There will be a universally accessible pedestrian crossing on the south side of the intersection at Michel‑Ange and 17th.
(See the drop-down menus below for maps of Phase 1 and Phase 2)
Car traffic
- Michel-Ange Street will be closed to traffic between 16th Avenue and 17th Avenue.
- On 17th Avenue, one lane will remain open in each direction along Michel‑Ange Park.
- On Michel-Ange Street, one lane will remain open in each direction.
- 17th Avenue will become one-way southbound along Michel‑Ange Park.
Changes to street parking
Some parking spaces on Michel‑Ange Street and 17th Avenue will be removed during the project. Permit parking (sticker zone) will also be relocated.
Late May 2025 – Excavation phase to come
After the preparatory work is done, we’ll begin the excavation phase. Information on any street obstruction during this phase will be available soon.
Good to know
- Access to businesses and residences will be maintained at all times.
- Signage will be posted to direct pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
- Worksite trucks will take 17th Avenue, Jean‑Talon Street and Saint-Michel Boulevard.
- Appropriate mitigation measures will be put in place to reduce the impact on local residents, including noise walls around the worksite perimeter.
Learn more about the project
let's chat
Public participation
Information sessions, talks, activities, good neighbour committees: our team wants to meet you!
In the coming months, we’ll be starting excavation work to make way for new infrastructure for the Blue line project.
The excavation method will vary depending on the type of work being done. The surface excavation work will involve controlled microblasting, whereas most of the excavation for the underground tunnel will be done using a tunnel boring machine, or TBM. At both types of worksites, there will also be some mechanical excavation. The vibrations produced by the different excavation methods will be measured on an ongoing basis using seismographs. These devices will be installed at various points throughout the excavation zones and will be used to continuously monitor the vibration levels and make sure they fall within legal limits.
Essential preventive measures
To prepare for upcoming excavation work, the STM has tasked ABS with inspecting buildings that meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Located within 75 metres of any surface-level excavation work
- Located within 30 metres of the tunnel axis
The inspections will serve to compile an inventory of the structures surrounding the worksites for the Blue line project. The findings of the inspections will also be used to establish the maximum vibration levels for each site. Although these inspections are a precautionary measure, they are essential in the unlikely event that the work causes any damage.
Each building inspection lasts approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Photos are taken of the building interior and exterior. The photos are mostly close-ups of the foundations, walls, ceilings, and floors and serve to document the building’s condition prior to the start of the excavation work.
The pre-construction inspection is a common precautionary measure for major construction sites. It protects you in the unlikely event that your property suffers any damage during work on the Blue line project.
Controlled microblasting is used on several major STM worksites, depending on the type of rock to be excavated. To learn more, watch the video in the FAQ section of our Blue line project page.
An auxiliary building is a service building, closed to the public and located between two métro stations, that houses a variety of mechanical and electrical equipment needed for métro operations. This includes ventilation equipment, power supply infrastructure and pumps to remove runoff water. There are currently hundreds of these buildings in the métro network.
More about the Blue line project
Contenu de l'onglet 5
The project in images
The Blue line project follows in the wake of the Déclaration du gouvernement du Québec et de la Ville de Montréal to revitalize Montréal East. Many projects are underway to give a new impetus to this sector. Increased mobility, economic development, and improved living environments are at the heart of this ambitious project. For more information, see Québec.ca/RevitalisationEstMontreal (in French only).