Construction has begun on Montreal’s new light rail system, and many road closures and other delays are to be expected in the coming years. Aside from major closures – such as the Deux-Montagnes line being closed for two years – other shorter closures will inconvenience commuters periodically.
West Island commuters will be affected on the weekend of November 3-5 by a complete closure of Highway 40 in both directions between Highway 13 and St-Jean Boulevard, including its service roads. Motorists are advised to use Highway 20 instead, despite the fact that it’s already heavily affected by Turcot construction.
The closure will begin at 3 pm on Saturday, November 3 and the highway won't reopen until 5 am on Monday, November 5.
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Between November 3 and 5, drivers are invited to take one of two alternate routes.
- Westbound: take Hwy. 13-S to Hwy. 20-W, then North on Saint-Jean to reconnect with the 40;
- Eastbound: South on Saint-Jean or or Des Sources, then take the 20-E, then North on Hwy. 13-N to rejoin the 40.
The closure will allow REM crews to demolish a rail bridge that spans the highway. It will eventually be replaced by a new bridge for the REM.
The REM’s light rail network is set to be operational in Montreal by 2021.