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There are several projects that will impede or stop traffic flows, including on Highway 40 and Highway 20 in the West Island.
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Motorists headed onto or off of the island of Montreal are strongly recommended to avoid using Highway 40 in the West Island for the next four weekends, as it will be closed completely or down to one lane.
And travellers planning a flight around Thanksgiving are advised to give themselves extra time getting to or from the airport, as Highway 20 eastbound will be closed that weekend for construction work.
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These were some of the major traffic impediments forecast for this fall and presented by Mobilité Montréal on Thursday at an overview of the municipal and provincial road construction projects on or around the island. In all, there are 51 infrastructure projects that will impede or stop traffic flows, the same number that was announced for the summer season. Only five of the projects are new; the rest are continuations of work already in progress.
The good news, city spokesperson Philippe Sabourin said, is that 60 per cent of the city of Montreal’s road construction sites should be completed by the end of fall. The bad news is there will definitely be new ones to replace them.
“The need to repair our roads and our water systems is always present, so it’s certain we’re already planning new projects for next year,” Sabourin said.
There are signs Montreal’s seemingly endless construction zones are starting to bear fruit, Sabourin said. The number of local roads listed in “good shape” increased from 38 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2022. The number of main roads listed in “bad condition” dropped to 24 per cent, from 30 per cent. In the last 10 years, the number of water main breaks has dropped by 40 per cent, cutting the amount of water lost to leaks by 50 per cent.
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That being said, the traffic suffering will continue.
Here are some of the main construction sites to keep in mind this fall:
Highway 40 at the des Pins Rd. overpass: Work on the overpass in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue will force the closure of all or most of the lanes in either direction on Highway 40 for the next four weekends. Drivers are advised to take Highway 20 instead. Des Anciens-Combattants Blvd., which links the two highways in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, will be closed as well.
Highway 20 eastbound on Thanksgiving weekend: Work on the highway in the St-Pierre Interchange will mean travellers landing at the airport will not be able to use the highway to get downtown or to points east. The Côte-de-Liesse Expressway (Highway 520) will be available as an alternative, but traffic planners said congestion is expected in the area throughout the weekend.
The disruptions will not be as dire as when Highway 20 westbound leading to the airport was closed at the end of May, spurring traffic chaos and causing many travellers to miss their flights, because it will mainly affect travellers flying into the airport and heading into the city.
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Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge: Due to reinforcement work on the aging bridge, only two lanes will be open in either direction. Authorities said they will soon be able to open a third lane in the direction of rush-hour traffic, but could not specify when. Partial closures may also happen at night and on weekends.
Highway 40 eastbound between Morgan and St-Charles Blvds.: Reconstruction of the roadway will continue until December. Three lanes will be open for rush-hour traffic, and two lanes in the opposing direction.
Highway 13: Work on the Côte-Vertu overpass will continue to the end of November, causing a partial or complete closure of the highway in one direction on nights and weekends. Côte-Vertu Blvd. will also be closed.
Honoré-Mercier Bridge: Down to one lane in each direction on some nights and weekends.
Décarie Expressway: Work on the de Maisonneuve Blvd. and Upper Lachine Rd. overpasses will require the partial closure of the expressway at night in both directions. The overpasses may be completely closed on nights and weekends. The pedestrian walkway connecting Upper Lachine Rd. and Girouard Ave. will be closed.
Ville-Marie Expressway: Work will continue on the expressway, forcing a partial or complete closure on some nights and weekends. The Guy St. exit is slated to reopen at the end of the fall.
Ste-Catherine St. between Peel and Mansfield Sts.: Will be closed to traffic until 2024.
Motorists are advised to check the Mobilité Montréal or Quebec 511 websites, Google Maps or Waze before setting out. Public and active transit is also encouraged.
rbruemmer@postmedia.com
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