Alas, the ChateauaguayCitizen.com ‘s vacation time is now coming to an end, but thankfully so is the work on the Mercier Bridge!
Albeit it was a real pain in the ‘Pattoogan’, we will miss much of the entertainment that the bridgework offered.
The work being carried out on the federal section of Mercier Bridge is winding up and is still scheduled to be completely open tomorrow on Monday, August 11 at 5 a.m.
Here are a few examples of memorable observations made during the Mercier Bridge work:
It’s amazing how many people actually read the newspaper or the ‘Publi-Sac ’ while supposedly ‘driving’ to work each morning.
There is a great number of ambidextrous Women (and some men) drivers who are able to put on their makeup with one hand, and eat breakfast with the other during the morning commute.
Who will forget the cell phone addicts? Especially those sneaky Texters, ya – you know who you are- seen deservedly spilling their Timmy’s all over themselves when coming to abrupt stop as they tried to simultaneously juggle their cell phones, coffee and steering wheels.
The noise pollution-Radios blasting a melange of ear worms as you crept past each car, all set on different music stations as jack hammers seemingly pounded into the side of your head as you slowly made your way along the span.
The numerous incidences of daily Fender Benders, bilingual cursing and suggestive hand signage-never mind the occasional fisticuffs stopping the already snail like flow of traffic.
The irritation of having some sign wearing kid run up to your car window to hand out AMT bus vouchers, slowing the traffic even more.
Motorcycles sneaking by you on the side, weaving dangerously in and out of lanes – using no turn signals or common sense.
The cost of our wasted fuel and the regular ingestion of inhaled fumes mixed with other forms of miscellaneous pollution as we often sat still in 30+ degree heat.
The many Truckers cutting off cars and boxing us into the cement side barriers in their desperate race against time to reach the span before their 3 pm deadline.
Those who weren’t smart enough to stay in the left hand lane often risked being pulled over for a surprise SQ spot check as when crawling along the Ville St Pierre interchange during rush hour. Heck, we even had a Cop put his head directly inside the car window to check around inside as we slowed down next to his cruiser!
The creepiness of having to repeatedly drive past the same road kill day after day until the MTQ finally decided to pick it up.
Well Folks, IT’S OVER.
Carry on Chateauguay Citizens, Carry On.
Until next time!