Record Ridership:

The RécréoParc bike path (which extends over more than 14.9 km) and the paths connecting Nuns' Island are experiencing remarkable turnout. According to Montreal's network of automated bicycle counters, the use of bike paths as reported by the Nuns' Island Bridge and Estacade counters each exceeds 900 cyclists per day. These conclusive results place these routes among the most frequented cycling axes in southwest Montreal.

Benoît Gratton, borough councillor in Verdun and an urban planning enthusiast, emphasizes that this objective data is essential for adjusting traffic lights, planning future infrastructures, and evaluating the effectiveness of existing facilities.

Network and Interconnectivity

Cyclists coming from Verdun ride along the Nuns' Island bridge past Monseigneur-Richard high school and can reach the waterfront via Marin Park or Chemin du Golf.

The second access is via the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge bike path. With a length of 3.4 km, the multi-purpose path allows pedestrians and cyclists to travel safely between Montreal and the South Shore year-round. It directly connects Nuns' Island from the Claude-Robutel roundabout at the intersection of René-Lévesque Boulevard and Jacques-Le Ber Street — and the La Riveraine path in Brossard. Its four observation decks offer an impressive viewpoint of the St. Lawrence River, the seaway, and downtown Montreal.

Since 2016, the Estacade bike path has been a crucial link of more than two kilometers connecting Nuns' Island to the St. Lawrence Seaway dike, generally in service from mid-April to early December. This path was considerably changed and improved in 2025.

The REM: A New Paradigm of Travel

The arrival of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), whose regular service at the Nuns' Island station began on July 31, 2023, represents a major upheaval. A new type of active travel has emerged: instead of pedaling all the way downtown, many residents now bike to the REM. This intermodal transition changes the axis of the routes, justifying optimal connections towards René-Lévesque Boulevard and Pont Champlain Street.

Access to/from downtown Montreal from the South West is in full revolution. Historically perceived as a concrete barrier, the federal portion of the Bonaventure Expressway is currently being reconfigured into a user-friendly urban boulevard.

The project does not merely rebuild the roadway; it completely transforms the urban fabric of this sector. The works will allow the creation of a green corridor with an impressive area of 80,000 square meters. In addition, this redevelopment will integrate a cycling link and a pedestrian link over a length of 2.5 kilometers.

The final phase dedicated to the landscaping works of the green corridor, rest areas, and active mobility paths is planned for 2028-2029.

The infrastructure of the island itself allows for complete coverage of the entire island. It has undergone constant changes and is getting a makeover.

The Nuns' Island Owners and Residents Association (APRIDS) notes that major sections of Nuns' Island Boulevard were repaved in 2024. These efforts will continue in 2026 to fill in the missing links, notably near Jacques-Le-Ber Park and to create a new riverside connection towards Pointe-Nord.

New Attractions: The Tribute Belvedere

Infrastructures are not just for transit; they are becoming recreational destinations. Cyclists have recently discovered a new rest area: the Tribute Belvedere to the Champlain Bridge (Belvédère Hommage au Pont Champlain).

Located on the banks of the river, it commemorates the original bridge and offers a spectacular panorama of Montreal. It allows the observation of migratory birds and offers a breathtaking view of the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge, particularly majestic during its nighttime illuminations.

Cyclists have discovered this new bike path and its rest area with illuminated trees, located on the edge of the river (behind the car dealerships between the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge and the Estacade bike path connected to the St. Lawrence Seaway dike path).

Partners

Partners involved: The success of these projects is the fruit of a collaboration between The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated (JCCBI), the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM), the City of Montreal (and the borough of Verdun), as well as Infrastructure Canada.

Budgets and Investments:

The development of the River Promenade and related infrastructures mobilizes significant envelopes. Concept studies evaluated at nearly $70,000 launched the beach-park project by the CMM, while the rehabilitation of the banks and local paving involve several million dollars assumed in the metropolis's Three-Year Capital Works Program.

The integration of the surroundings of the $7 billion+ REM megaproject supports these cycling initiatives.

Completion Schedules: The River Promenade works were initiated in May 2025 and the improvement of the Nuns' Island Boulevard and Pointe-Nord paths is staggered over several phases until 2026.

Economic Impacts

Financial and Economic Impacts: The densification of the cycling network and the new intermodal station considerably increase the residential appeal of Nuns' Island.

The increased accessibility stimulates local real estate valuation and supports the foot traffic of local businesses in the Pointe-Nord area. For citizens, it is also a direct way to reduce expenses related to automobile transport.

Social and Environmental Impacts:

The development of safe paths promotes healthy cohabitation between different modes of transport, reducing usage conflicts.

On the environmental front, the increase demonstrated by the bicycle counters (nearly 2,000 cumulative daily passages for the two main axes) attests to a tangible reduction in the carbon footprint. The creation of gathering places, like the Belvedere, reinforces mental well-being by reconnecting citizens to nature and the St. Lawrence River.