Construction of the Pauline-Vanier auxiliary building
- Worksite summary
- Impact on customer trips
- Impact on local residents
- Learn more about the project
- Onglet 5
Worksite summary
As part of the Blue line project, this worksite involves building a new operational infrastructure required to operate the métro.
This worksite is located north of Autoroute Metropolitaine (40) on Pauline-Vanier street.
Start of work: Preparatory work began in early September, and the excavation phase has been underway since September 22, 2025.
Description of the work: New building construction.
Impact on customer trips
Your bus trips in the area are made without any impact.
Impact on local residents
Controlled microblasting excavation work
Microblasting excavation work will begin in April 2026, at the site. For more information, see the Microblasting section further down the page.
Preparatory work is now complete in the area of the future Pauline-Vanier auxiliary building. It included street excavation to connect to the water supply and sewer systems, as well as paving activities.
The excavation phase begins on September 22, 2025, and continues for approximately 6 months. The final configuration of the site is in place.
Good to know:
- Work 7 days a week, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Interventions carried out in the evening are planned to prioritize less noisy activities than those carried out during the day.
- A pedestrian walkway is arranged on the north sidewalk, next to the worksite. The south sidewalk remains accessible.
- Traffic is maintained in both lanes.
- Parking is allowed on both sides of Pauline-Vanier Street, except in the area in front of the worksite entrance.
Microblasting
Controlled microblasting excavation at the future Pauline-Vanier auxiliary building site will start in April 2026. We'll be using this proven technique as it's an efficient way of excavating on a limited site, such as the one of this auxiliary building. Occasional vibrations may be felt by residents near the worksite.
An independent consulting firm carried out surveys (especially photographs) on all buildings around the work site. These inspections document the condition of the buildings before and after construction. In the unlikely event that any damage is reported, an expert opinion will help to determine whether the damage is the result of the vibrations produced by the work site. Property owners affected by this measure have been contacted before the start of microblasting work.
Carbon monoxide detectors will also be distributed to properties within a 100-meter radius of the worksite.
- The site of the auxiliary building has already been partitioned off, and the microblasting will take place within the construction zone.
- Safety instructions will be posted around the site.
- Blasting mats will be installed over the rock to contain the micro-blasts.
- No explosives will be stored on site.
- We’ve hired a specialized firm to monitor the vibrations and ensure compliance with the City of Montréal’s standards.
- 12 whistle or siren sounds
- 30-second wait
- Microblast
- 1 long whistle or siren sound
- End of microblasting
The controlled microblasting excavation work will start in february, and will continue through summer 2026. There will be an average of ten microblasts per week.
For safety reasons, during each microblasting operation, a restricted area around the site will be temporarily closed to traffic, for a period of about 10 minutes. Employees will be present to coordinate this maneuver.
Learn more about the project
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.
let's chat
Public participation
Information sessions, talks, activities, good neighbour committees: our team wants to meet you!
Information booth
At Le Boulevard Shopping Centre
The project in image
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).