The story of the "Little River" that became a heritage sewer in Montréal
In the heart of Montreal’s historic district is the oldest collector sewer in Canada. This monumental work of civil engineering in cut stone was designed in 1832 by two British architects with the aim of channeling and burying the Petite Rivière, which then became an open sewer. This sewer has had an exceptional longevity, decommissioned in 1990 when replaced by a new network of sewage interceptors. Since May 2017, on the occasion of the city’s 375th anniversary, Pointe-à- Callière, City of archeology and history of Montreal, has restored and made accessible to visitors a 110 m long segment, which now serves underground link between the pavilions of the museum complex. This article highlights the objectives that guided the realization of this rehabilitation project as well as the issues and challenges encountered by the designers and experts.