For the second consecutive weekend, Montreal's major highway construction projects will fall silent, offering a temporary reprieve to drivers as workers take a holiday break. However, this pause does not extend to the city's newest transit system, which faces a complete shutdown.
REM Service Halted for Critical Testing
While highway crews enjoy time off, workers for the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) will be busy conducting essential tests. This work requires a full shutdown of the entire REM network on both Saturday and Sunday. The testing is focused on the new Anse-à-l'Orme branch of the automated light rail system.
Passengers who rely on the REM for weekend travel will need to seek alternative transportation. Officials direct riders to the rem.info website for information on bus options available between stations during the closure. Regular REM service is scheduled to resume at the start of the workweek on Monday morning.
Highway Construction Pauses for the Holidays
The holiday period brings welcome news for motorists, as no major disruptions are planned on Montreal's highways. Major construction sites are quiet, allowing for smoother travel. This break, however, is temporary, and several significant projects will continue to cause long-term disruptions once work resumes.
Key Ongoing Transportation Disruptions
Drivers and transit users should remain aware of these persistent changes and closures across Montreal:
Highway 10: The eastbound Exit 3 for Carrie-Derick Street is now permanently closed. This is part of the large-scale project to transform the Bonaventure Expressway into an urban boulevard. Carrie-Derick Street itself will eventually be removed and replaced by the new boulevard.
Highway 19 (Papineau-Leblanc Bridge): Traffic between Montreal and Laval is currently limited to two lanes in each direction. The bridge will continue to experience partial or complete nighttime closures until the end of 2026.
Highway 40 (Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge): The crucial link remains constrained to five lanes total. This configuration includes two lanes in each direction, with one alternating lane used to manage rush-hour traffic flows.
Jean-Talon Street: Construction related to the Blue Line métro extension has shut down sections of Jean-Talon. Bus routes, notably the 141 and 372, are being detoured onto Bélanger and Everett Streets. A temporary shuttle bus is running along Jean-Talon and Bélanger to serve affected areas.
Pie-IX Boulevard (Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve): Work on extending the Pie-IX rapid bus service (SRB) southbound has reduced traffic to just one lane in each direction between Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue and Notre-Dame Street.
St-Urbain Street (Ville-Marie): The overpass above the Ville-Marie Expressway is closed for a major renovation expected to last until the end of 2026. Pedestrian access across the structure is being maintained throughout the project.
Residents and commuters are advised to plan their routes carefully, especially during the REM's weekend shutdown, and to stay updated on the status of long-term infrastructure projects affecting travel across the city.
