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Jean Drapeau built it in 1966 to link the Champlain Bridge and downtown in time for Expo 67.

Fifty years later, Montreal’s current mayor, Denis Coderre, is demolishing part of it to create a signature new entryway to the city in time for Montreal’s 375th birthday next year.

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Montreal started tearing down its portion of the elevated Bonaventure Expressway this week, promising to replace it with two boulevards with a series of green spaces between them, by September 2017.

The Bonaventure was built at a time when cars were at the centre of city planning, Mayor Coderre said Wednesday. Today, the focus is also on public transit and making cities more walkable, he said.

The roadwork is causing traffic headaches but “the sacrifices will be worth it,” Coderre added. “At the end of the day, we will be proud of our city because this is going to be a hell of a boulevard.”

Here’s what you need to know about the $142-million project: