Brace Yourself: Major Traffic Disruptions on the Champlain Bridge This Weekend

If you are planning to commute between Montreal and the South Shore this weekend, it is time to rethink your route. Due to weather-related delays, the long-awaited roadwork on the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge is finally happening, and it is expected to cause significant congestion across the metropolitan area.

The Big Closure: What You Need to Know

Starting Friday at 11:00 PM until Monday at 5:00 AM, the southbound lanes of Highway 15 will be completely closed. The closure spans from the Turcot Interchange to the Route 132 ramp for Highway 10 in Brossard.

This is not just a minor inconvenience; drivers should expect heavy traffic and significant delays. To help you navigate the weekend, here are the key points of impact:

• Major Bottlenecks: High congestion is predicted around the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel, as well as the Jacques-Cartier and Victoria Bridges.
• The Victoria Bridge Strategy: To ease the flow toward the South Shore, the MTQ will open both spans of the Victoria Bridge for southbound traffic only.
• Warning: You will not be able to use the Victoria Bridge to enter Montreal throughout the entire weekend.

Looking Ahead: Next Week and Long-Term Impacts

The disruptions aren’t over after this weekend. Roadwork will continue on the Samuel-De Champlain Bridge next weekend, shifting focus to the northbound lanes (toward Montreal).

Furthermore, starting Monday morning, the Victoria Bridge will operate with only one lane open until September 10, with traffic flowing in alternating directions. For real-time updates, we highly recommend checking Québec 511, the official source for road conditions in the province.

Other Local Disruptions to Watch Out For

It’s not just the bridges. Several other areas are facing restrictions that could add to your travel time:

• Boucherville: On Highway 20, motorists must detour between exit 95 and the following entrance all day Saturday and Sunday.
• Boulevard De Montarville: Southbound traffic is prohibited between chemin de Touraine and the A-20 west access (except for one lane to maintain business access).
• Montreal City: Avenue Souligny will see disruptions in both directions, with westbound closures lasting until August 27. Additionally, one lane of the Ville-Marie Tunnel westbound exit will be closed until August 28.

Public Transit Alert: REM Delays

If you’re thinking of skipping the car and taking the Réseau express métropolitain (REM), be aware that you might need to wake up a bit later or find an alternative for the early morning. Due to scheduled maintenance, service between Gare Centrale, Deux-Montagnes, and Anse-à-l’Orme will not begin until 7:30 AM.

For the most current transit schedules, visit the official REM website.

Pro Tip: Whether you’re heading to the South Shore for a getaway or commuting for work, leave earlier than usual and stay tuned to local traffic reports to avoid getting stuck in the gridlock!