Completion marks a key step in Greater Montreal’s sustainable transportation vision
Rosemère residents now have a safer and more sustainable link across the Mille-Îles River, as the long-awaited reconstruction of the Île Bélair Bridge has been completed. The upgraded 28.5-metre multiuse bridge forms a crucial connection in the town’s Active Mobility Project, paving the way for a continuous bicycle path along Labelle Boulevard and improving regional active transportation options.
The project, funded through a partnership between the Gouvernement du Québec, the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), and the Town of Rosemère, represents a total investment of nearly $370,000. The province and CMM each contributed $123,242 through the Trame verte et bleue du Grand Montréal program, while Rosemère covered the remaining costs.
A Civic Infrastructure Win
Designed with a focus on safety and sustainability, the bridge was almost entirely prefabricated off-site, a method that minimized disruption for motorists and nearby residents. The structure includes a protected, two-way multiuse path that links seamlessly to Rosemère’s existing cycling and pedestrian network, allowing users direct access to regional trails and natural spaces.
Local officials say the bridge is more than just a transportation link — it is a tangible response to residents’ calls for greener, healthier mobility. During urban vision consultations held between 2018 and 2020, the public ranked active transportation as a top priority. The bridge’s reconstruction is one of the first concrete results of that feedback.
“This new multiuse path is a perfect fit with the Trame verte et bleue du Grand Montréal,” said Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montréal and Chair of the CMM. “It will boost active mobility and make it easier for people to reach the Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles — a great example of collaboration toward a sustainable, better-connected urban environment.”
Rosemère Mayor Eric Westram praised the project’s contribution to regional connectivity. “The reconstruction of the Île Bélair Bridge brings us closer to a cohesive mobility system. Thank you to residents for their patience during the work,” he said.
Part of a Larger Vision
The bridge will form part of the CMM’s Réseau vélo métropolitain, a planned, fully integrated cycling network spanning Greater Montreal. The Trame verte et bleue, which supports the project, aims to preserve natural landscapes, enhance biodiversity, and promote low-carbon transportation options.
For Rosemère, the completion of the bridge is not the end but the beginning. Municipal officials say further development will continue in the coming months, expanding cycling infrastructure and improving links between neighbourhoods.
By investing in projects like the Île Bélair Bridge, Rosemère is reinforcing its role in a region-wide effort to build healthier, more accessible, and environmentally responsible communities — where infrastructure serves both the needs of today’s residents and the planet’s future.
