ADM Aéroports de Montréal held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially launch construction of the future Réseau express métropolitain (REM) station at YUL Montréal-Trudeau International Airport. The first REM metro car will enter the station in 2023.
“We are delighted to begin construction of the REM station,” said Philippe Rainville, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aéroports de Montréal. For over 25 years, we have been waiting for our international airport to be connected to downtown Montréal by an efficient rail link. This structuring project is the first step in an ambitious redevelopment of our access infrastructures that will enable us not only to respond adequately to the growth of passenger traffic at YUL, but also to improve the inter-modality of the airport site to make it more accessible for the benefit of travellers, as well as to put an end road congestion challenges.”
The construction of the REM station is part of a much larger project, the cityside development program, which will include rebuilding the multi-level parking complex and the drop-off/pick-up zones at YUL, access infrastructures that are at the end of their useful life and at full capacity. A new space, YULtransit, will also be built underground where modes of public transport will converge.
Representing an investment of more than $2.5 billion from ADM, this program is one of the largest private infrastructure projects in Québec and marks a new milestone in the history of Montréal-Trudeau Airport.
“Today, we are starting to build a new gateway to our metropolis and marking an important step in the realization of the REM,” said Macky Tall, President and Chief Executive Officer of CDPQ Infra. “In just a few years, Quebecers will have access to an extensive, reliable and frequent transportation network to get to the airport, regardless of traffic. For visitors, this will be a new, fast and efficient link to the heart of the city’s activities on modern metro cars with a unique view of the city.”
To support execution of the work, ADM has awarded the project management contract to a consortium composed of firms with specialized expertise: Pomerleau, SNC-Lavalin and Kiewit (PSK Construction). As partners of the program, they will be mandated to identify opportunities for optimizing the schedule and phasing of the work while ensuring that impacts on passenger service are minimized.
ADM will assume the $250 million investment related to the construction of the REM station. The installation of technical equipment (platform screen doors, rails, electric power supply, communication and control systems, etc.) will be carried out as part of the REM project. Excavation to build the station will be at a depth of 35 meters under the multi-level parking complex.
The REM is expected to transport users from downtown to the airport in around 20 minutes.
The construction of the REM station will be completed in 2023.
