Businesses rejoice as St-Denis construction comes to an end

Merchants are planning a party now that construction work on one of Montreal's main commercial arteries is finally nearing completion.

Much of St-Denis Street has been fully re-opened to traffic after more than a year of orange cones, jackhammers and bulldozers.

Mayor Denis Coderre said the work was completed one month ahead of schedule and the contractor has received a bonus.

"We don't want to have the syndrome of St-Laurent in the past where you have to reopen the sidewalk three different times for three different reasons," Coderre said.

The construction work, which began in Sept. 2015, was a nightmare for businesses.

"At times we weren't sure we'd be able to keep our doors open," said Tony Arvanitis, manager of l'Académie Restaurant.

Before the construction, the restaurant was often staffed by 15 waiters on a busy Saturday night, Arvanitis said. This summer, there were only six. The restaurant also closed one of its three floors.

Arvanitis said he's worked at the restaurant for roughly two decades and, for the first time, worried he might be out of a job.

The goal now, he said, is to make sure people know the construction work is over. He said the restaurant may embark on an advertising blitz to get the word out.

Alain Dussault, owner of Hachoir restaurant, also said he's relieved the work has come to an end.

Dussault estimated business dropped by 10 to 20 per cent during the construction period. Businesses that rely on customers who visit by car, such as clothing stores, likely suffered even more, he said.

Local businesses are expected to be joined at the party on Monday by Coderre, borough mayor Luc Ferrandez and the company that did the work, Les Entreprises Michaudville Inc.