La Fontaine tunnel: three lanes to be closed for three years
Posted October 13, 2022 10:43 am.
Last Updated October 21, 2022 11:58 am.
South Shore commuters will need to prepare for years of traffic headaches, as the Quebec Transport Ministry will be closing three lanes in the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel for the next three years – as of October 31.
Only one lane will remain open for traffic heading South-bound. Two lanes will be open for those driving Montreal-bound.
Prior to the planned closure, a work blitz will take place during the weekend of October 21 to 23 to adapt the northbound lanes. From Friday 10 p.m. to Monday 5 a.m.
This will include resurfacing and signage to allow two-way traffic.
A second work blitz will take place the following weekend, starting October 29, to adapt the access ramps and road exits.
These blitzes will require the complete closure of the tunnel on weekends, while work is carried out for periods of 60 consecutive hours.
In August, Quebec announced the 55-year-old tunnel was in rough shape and would need work. The initial price tag was $900 million.
Some 120,000 vehicles drive through the tunnel daily, approximately 15,000 of those are trucks.
The Transport Ministry has added additional parking in Varennes, Beloeil and Boucherville, with free shuttle buses that will take commuters to the Radisson metro station.
The closures are expected to be felt across the island as the tunnel connects to Highway 25, 20 and Route 132.
More vehicles are also expected on the Jacques-Cartier bridge, increasing traffic in the east-end of downtown Montreal.