Montreal drivers can expect a relatively light weekend for major road disruptions, with all bridges and tunnels to and from the island remaining open. However, several significant trouble spots require planning and patience for those navigating the city's highways and key routes.
Major Highway Closures and Lane Reductions
A notable closure will affect Highway 30 eastbound over Highway 10. This section will be shut down from 10 p.m. on Friday, December 5, until 5 a.m. on Monday, December 8. Traffic will be diverted onto the service road to allow crews to perform repairs on the overpass's expansion joints. Officials note that ramps connecting to and from Highway 10 will remain accessible despite this closure.
Meanwhile, the Charles-De Gaulle Bridge, linking Montreal with Terrebonne, will see reduced capacity. From 9:30 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Monday, the bridge will be down to two lanes in each direction. The open lanes will be narrowed to 3.3 metres, and a reduced speed limit of 50 km/h will be strictly enforced for worker and driver safety.
Key Exit Closure on the Ville-Marie Expressway
Drivers on the Ville-Marie Expressway (Route 136) heading eastbound should be aware of a critical exit closure. The exit for Papineau Avenue and the Jacques-Cartier Bridge will be completely closed from 10 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. This closure, due to work by a private company, also affects Notre-Dame Street between Panet Street and Papineau Avenue.
A detour for the Jacques-Cartier Bridge is in place: motorists must continue east on the Ville-Marie and execute a U-turn at Frontenac Street to access the bridge.
Cycling Paths Prepare for Winter Shutdown
This weekend also marks a seasonal transition for cyclists. The popular St. Lawrence Seaway dike path, the Estacade (ice bridge) bicycle path, and the Jean-Drapeau Park bicycle network will all close for the winter season on Sunday at 11 p.m.. Cyclists seeking a winter route can still use the multipurpose path on the Samuel De Champlain Bridge, which remains open throughout the winter, weather conditions permitting.
Ongoing Long-Term Disruptions to Remember
Beyond the weekend work, several major projects continue to impact Montreal's road network:
- Highway 10: Eastbound Exit 3 for Carrie-Derick Street is now permanently closed as part of the Bonaventure Expressway transformation into an urban boulevard.
- Highway 19 (Papineau-Leblanc Bridge): Only two lanes are open in each direction, with partial or complete nightly closures expected until the end of 2026.
- Highway 40 (Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge): The bridge operates with just five lanes total—two in each direction plus one alternating lane during rush hours.
- Jean-Talon Street: Construction for the Blue Line métro extension has closed parts of the street, detouring bus routes 141 and 372 onto Bélanger and Everett Streets.
- Pie-IX Boulevard: Only one lane is open in each direction between Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue and Notre-Dame Street for the SRB Pie-IX extension.
- St-Urbain Street Overpass: The overpass above the Ville-Marie Expressway is closed for a major renovation project slated to last until the end of 2026. Pedestrian access is maintained.
Public transit users will find relief, as no major disruptions are planned for the metro or bus networks. The REM will operate its standard weekend schedule, with service between Brossard and Deux-Montagnes until 9 p.m. and between Brossard and Côte-de-Liesse until 1 a.m.
