Gouin Boulevard (officially in French: boulevard Gouin) is the longest street on the Island of Montreal, stretching 57.6 kilometres (35.8 mi) across the north side of the island from Senneville in the west to Pointe-aux-Trembles in the east, where it intersects with Sherbrooke Street (Quebec Route 138).

Gouin Boulevard
Visitation Church at 1847 Gouin Boulevard East
Native nameboulevard Gouin (French)
Length57.6 km (35.8 mi)
LocationIsland of Montreal
Coordinates45°33′14″N 73°40′23″W / 45.553842°N 73.67313°W / 45.553842; -73.67313
West endAnse-à-l'Orme Road, Senneville
Major
junctions
R-117 South: Laurentian Boulevard
R-117 North: Lachapelle Street
R-335 Ahuntsic Bridge
A-40 (TCH)
East end R-138 Sherbrooke Street, Pointe-aux-Trembles

Overview

edit

Through most of its length, it parallels the Riviere des Prairies that separates Montreal from Laval (Île Jésus). Beginning in the west at the Montreal/Senneville border on Anse-à-l'Orme Road, the boulevard crosses the boroughs and neighbourhoods of Pierrefonds, Sainte-Geneviève, Roxboro, Saraguay, Cartierville, Ahuntsic, Montréal-Nord, Rivière-des-Prairies, and Pointe-aux-Trembles. It is named after Sir Lomer Gouin, Premier of Quebec from 1905 to 1920.[1]

Many sections of the street feature bicycle lanes that are part of Quebec's Route Verte network. However, several sections have been criticized as dangerous, due to the presence of hydro poles in the lanes.[2] The road has been voted the worst road in Quebec several times.[3]

History

edit

What is now Gouin Boulevard was first started in 1731, as part of the Chemin du Roy, the oldest highway in Canada. It first opened between 1734 and 1777, serving settlements that had started to be established at the end of the 17th century. In 1910, the portion of the Chemin du Roy on Montreal Island was renamed to "Gouin" in honour of politician Lomer Gouin (1861-1929), a premier of Quebec, by the District and County of Montreal.[4]

Much of the boulevard was affected during the 2017 Quebec floods.

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Lomer Gouin
  2. ^ Duchaine-Baillargeon, Gabrielle (May 21, 2007). "Des pistes dangereuses". Journal de Montreal (in French). canoe.ca. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2008.
  3. ^ "Montreal's Gouin Boulevard East crowned as worst road in Quebec, again". CBC News. June 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Roger Lagacé (December 16, 2014). "Du chemin du Roy au boulevard Gouin". Le Guide de Montréal-Nord (in French). Journal Métro de Montréal ("Metro").