Rue Peel: more user-friendly than ever!

Last updated June 5, 2023
Reading time: 2 min

Montréal is happy to announce that work is complete on the Rue Peel, between Rue Smith and Boulevard René-Lévesque,  infrastructure and surface redesign.

Public space on Rue Peel has been rethought

During the last few years, several sections of Rue Peel have seen their aging underground infrastructure (water and sewer lines) replaced. Taking advantage of this necessary work, the city seized the opportunity to redesign the street to make it greener and more user-friendly for pedestrians and cyclists. In order to highlight archaeological discoveries made between 2016 and 2019, commemorative elements celebrating Iroquoian history have been integrated into the design.

Improvements made

Rue Peel is now more attractive for users, in particular thanks to the following actions:

Surface improvements

  • Construction of protected bicycle paths, part of the Express Bike Network (EBN)
  • Widening of sidewalks and installation of granite curbs and concrete pavers
  • Creation of large covered tree pits and the addition of 78 trees
  • Installation of tree grates with designs inspired by archaeological discoveries
  • Inclusion of new urban furniture
  • Addition of new LED street lights

Underground improvements

  • Reconstruction or rehabilitation of some parts of the water and sewer lines not previously repaired
  • Replacement of electricity, gas and telecommunications networks/lines

Did You Know?

  •  Rue Peel connects the Lachine Canal and Parc du Mont Royal and contributes greatly to the character of downtown Montréal. Over 2.4 km long, it passes through several different neighbourhoods including Griffintown, the Quartier des Gares, downtown and the Golden Square Mile.
  • Between 2016 and 2019, archaeological digs at the corner of Rue Sherbrooke and Rue Peel uncovered evidence of a major Iroquoian village dating back to 1300-1400 CE, centuries before the arrival of the first French settlers. The patterns of the tree grates installed on Rue Peel evoke these discoveries. Other commemorative elements will be added in June 2023. Stay tuned for more news!
  • The Express Bike Network (EBN) on Peel Street is the first permanent EBN section in the history of Montréal, thanks to its elevated construction, i.e. halfway between the street and the sidewalk. This makes it safer, by protecting it from car traffic.

Finishing work have been done in 2022, including permanent paving of the Peel-William intersection and the start-up and programming of permanent traffic lights.