REM work to reduce lanes on two major downtown streets

More work on the future McGilllight-rail station begins today, as crews start to build a pedestrian tunnel that will connect the train station with thenearby metro station.

It's the second phase of theRseauexpress mtropolitain(REM) for that station and will reduce a stretch of de MaisonneuveBoulevard and McGillCollege Avenue to one lane until this spring.

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The project's third phase to start building the station itself starts after that. It is expected to be ready by 2022.

The work on de MaisonneuveBoulevard will take place between Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and McGillCollege, and on McGillCollege between de MaisonneuveBoulevard and Ste-Catherine Street.

The pedestrian tunnel will sit beneath de MaisonneuveBoulevard. Cyclists and pedestrians will also be affected. The bike path has been diverted up to Prsident-KennedyAvenue for that portion of de Maisonneuve.