A fire near the Jacques Cartier Bridge entrance led to the complete closure of the bridge, disrupting traffic between Montreal and the South Shore on Wednesday morning.
The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated announced the closure of the bridge’s traffic lanes, multipurpose path, and sidewalk in both directions around 6 a.m.
To navigate the situation, drivers were advised to consider using alternative routes such as the Samuel De Champlain Bridge or the Victoria Bridge.
The closure was triggered by a fire that broke out in an abandoned building at the junction of De Lorimier Avenue and Logan Street, near the base of the Jacques Cartier Bridge on the Montreal side.
Firefighters were alerted to the blaze late Tuesday night, with the fire starting on the first floor of the vacant industrial structure before spreading to higher levels.
Emergency responders remained active at the scene into Wednesday morning, as they continued to battle the fire that posed a risk of smoke obstructing vehicle movement and potential structural collapse onto the bridge’s supports.
Additionally, the bridge deck itself became a strategic point of operation for firefighting efforts.
