Montreal motorists are being warned to expect significant traffic disruptions and lengthy detours this long weekend as multiple major road work projects ramp up across the city.
Transport Québec says several highway closures are scheduled over the weekend, including a major shutdown of Route 136 eastbound through the Ville-Marie Tunnel.
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“It really is the beginning of the season,” said Louis-André Bertrand, spokesperson for Transport Québec. “We’ve had some closures in the past, but with the nicer weather and because the Grand Prix is happening next week and that means we can’t do any road work.”
The most significant closure will affect Route 136 eastbound between exit 4 serving the Victoria Bridge, Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and the de la Montagne Street entrance. The closure begins Friday at 11 p.m. and is expected to remain in place until Monday at 5 a.m.
The work will allow crews to complete slab repairs, paving and road marking operations in the Ville-Marie and Viger tunnels.
Drivers will also face overnight disruptions at the Turcot Interchange through May 19. Highway 25, including the La Fontaine Tunnel, will be closed in both directions overnight Friday into Saturday for maintenance work and upgrades to the tunnel’s electrical and communication systems.
Meanwhile, a new phase of the Highway 520 overpass reconstruction project above 43rd Avenue is set to begin May 20, causing additional traffic disruptions along Côte-de-Liesse Road in both directions.
Transport Québec is urging motorists to check Québec 511 before travelling.
“We have a short season to do all the work that needs to be done,” said Bertrand. “And so that leads to those weekends where like this weekend, it will be a hassle if you want to get to downtown by car.”
The closures are expected to affect fans travelling to the Canadiens playoff game Saturday night, Montreal Victoire supporters heading to Laval for Saturday afternoon’s playoff matchup, and travellers making their way to and from Montréal-Trudeau International Airport.
Some drivers said they understand the need for the work despite the inconvenience.
“It’s kind of necessary to close them, so I can’t be too mad about it or else they’ll never fix the roads,” said Laurent Tessier, a Montreal resident.
“For me, I don’t see it as like weird because road closure is because they are trying to make the road better,” said David Ibhaluobe, Peterborough, Ontario resident.
Others expressed frustration over the recurring traffic congestion tied to construction season.
“In terms of efficiency and mitigating traffic, there seems to be zero effort,” said Eric, a Montreal resident. “It’s a provincial joke how inefficient our construction crews are and how often we have to sit in traffic.”
Tessier acknowledged the detours can create major bottlenecks.
“You know, you take the highway and then you have to go onto like the little side road and then you have to fit everyone that’s supposed to fit on the highway on like a little 50 kilometer per hour road,” said Tessier. “So then it creates huge, huge traffic. But yeah, no, it is very frustrating, but I think it’s a necessary evil in some way.”
