Articles from Courrier Laval

In June, Laval experienced its most prolific month ever for new housing construction, despite a strike affecting residential construction early in the month. This record involved the start of 1,000 housing units, primarily rental accommodations. This momentum is contributing to a significant increase in residential development, with Laval potentially surpassing its all-time housing starts record from 2008.

A welding operation on an exterior faucet is believed to have caused a fire damaging a residence in the Saint-François area of Laval. The incident occurred on Monday, July 21, prompting the Laval Fire Department to dispatch 26 firefighters. Thankfully, the fire was quickly contained with damage estimated at around $34,000. The fire department emphasizes the importance of safety precautions when welding near combustible materials.

The City of Laval has completed the reconfiguration of the northbound access ramps of Highway 15, now accessible via Concorde West Boulevard. The project began in September 2024, with a budget of $7.8 million, and aims to improve traffic flow and reduce transit traffic in the growing downtown area. This new configuration facilitates a major residential project, anticipating the development of five rental housing towers on the old Brault & Martineau site and potentially adding 1200 dwellings over the next 8 to 10 years.

In June, Laval experienced a record-breaking month for new housing starts, with 1,000 units initiated despite a construction strike affecting the first 18 days. The strike targeted residential construction of buildings up to six stories, allowing projects with more floors to proceed. Laval accounted for 37% of the new housing starts in the Montreal metropolitan area. As of mid-2025, Laval has initiated 2,803 new units, surpassing previous annual records and moving towards ambitious long-term housing projects.

Magil Construction was awarded a public contract for the construction of a new fire station in Pont-Viau, Laval, at a cost of approximately $15.93 million including taxes. The decision to award the contract considered qualitative evaluation alongside price, which was a departure from standard procedures. The project, expected to take 15 months, aims to optimize emergency response in densely populated areas of Laval. The total investment for the project has reached $25.5 million, including previous expropriation costs.

Opposition party leaders in Laval reacted to a report by the city’s auditor general, highlighting inadequacies in the preventive maintenance of sewer systems. Only 28% of pump stations were inspected, falling short of the 85% target. This negligence, they assert, compromises public health and environmental protection. A corrective action plan is proposed to address the report’s recommendations before upcoming elections.

The annual report by Laval's Auditor General highlights significant flaws in the city's wastewater infrastructure maintenance program. Several inefficiencies were identified, such as outdated and incomplete data, and insufficient inspection of sewer lines and pumping stations. The report also indicates inadequate resources and budget allocations for proper maintenance activities. This issue has gained importance following a massive household flooding incident during a storm.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility announced the completion of the reconstruction of the Bélair Island bridge. The bridge, which connects Route 117 between Bélair Island and Rosemère, features two lanes in each direction and a new multipurpose path for safe active transportation. The project cost 10.6 million dollars and used prefabricated factory products to minimize traffic disruption. Approximately 25,000 vehicles cross the bridge daily, and the reconstruction took a year to complete.

The Fonds immobilier de solidarité FTQ and Urbania are investing $86 million in a 15-story condominium tower in downtown Laval. The project, called U-Bahn Condos, is one of the few new condominium projects in Laval in recent years and includes 220 units, with most being small apartments or studios. It's part of a larger development plan set to deliver a total of 800 new units by fall 2026, catering to diverse clients including first-time buyers and retirees.

As of May 31, Laval had laid the foundations for 1,803 housing units. Despite a setback in 2023 with only 1,170 housing starts, significant progress was made in early 2025 with 521 new units in May alone. The city sees a dominant trend in rental housing, while a recent strike by construction unions slightly disrupted the momentum until an agreement was reached in June. The city aims to break its 2008 record of 3,234 new homes.

The Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has announced a new phase of repair work on the Papineau-Leblanc bridge starting June 20. The work involves replacing guard rails, wheel guards, road surface asphalt, and the bridge membrane, causing a complete closure of Highway 19 southbound between June 20 and June 23. Two lanes will remain open in each direction on the bridge until the end of 2026, with potential intermittent closures. The closures are subject to change due to weather or operational constraints.

The costs for upgrading the city hall have escalated to a minimum of $80 million from an initial estimate of $23 million. The budget increase is due to structural issues discovered during demolition and rising labor costs, and the project has experienced significant delays. The municipality has renewed its lease at an alternative location through the end of 2028 while preparing a public tender for the renovation work. The project faced setbacks, including severed ties with the initial architectural firm, but the city claims its current planning processes are more focused and timely.