Île-Bizard traffic delays as Presidents Cup gets underway

Some Île-Bizard residents are frustrated because of long traffic delays getting in and out of their community due to the estimated 30,000 golf fans attending the Presidents Cup daily this week. 

“It really wasn’t organized. Some people took up to two-and-a-half hours to get off the island,” said Katie L’Herault, an Île-Bizard resident.

“It was terrible. I left my house and I got about maybe 10 to 15 car lengths and it took me an hour and a bit. So I just turned around and I went back home.”  

“I’m retired. I’m not affected by going off the island, but some lady this morning drove her kid to school and it took her two hours,” said Peter Daigle, who has lived in Île-Bizard for the past 37 years.

“I talked to her on a corner there a little while ago. She says, ‘that’s a little long.’”

On Tuesday morning, traffic was backed up in both directions on the only bridge connecting the borough to the Island of Montreal.  

The City of Montreal says that a broken down vehicle in the one lane leaving the island added to the delays during morning rush hour. 

“Basically the problem right here is the traffic control problem. When you start blocking three lanes of outgoing traffic, rush hour traffic in the morning and try and bring them into one, you’re going to run across problems, which is exactly what occurred,” said Doug Hurley, the borough mayor for L’Île-Bizard–Sainte-Geneviève.  

“There’s a lot of frustrations, but people are aware of it, have been for months. But still, when you say, I’m aware of it, I know it’s going to come. But when it comes and you’re sitting in traffic for an hour and a half, two hours, there’s a lot of honking and people are frustrated and yelling,” added Daigle.   

The City of Montreal put in measures to minimize traffic jams. During this week — until it wraps up on Sunday — only vehicles of residents of Île-Bizard or spectators and other guests with a vignette on their windshield can enter the island.

Checkpoints have been set up to make sure vehicles have these passes, and cars without vignettes on the island could be towed. 

“I’m pretty new on the island, but I’ve heard some horrific stories about on and off. So I’ve decided personally to live on the island for the next three or four days. This way I won’t have to go back and forth,” said David Gareau who recently moved to Île-Bizard.

“As far as traffic is concerned, definitely need to open up two lanes, at least just for rush hour. Let us get off the island,” demanded L’Herault.

Currently, three lanes are open to cross the Jacques-Bizard bridge, one lane for incoming traffic, one for outgoing and the third for buses and emergency crews.  

New plans have recently emerged to address the morning rush hour delays for residents trying to get off the island.

“Basically as of tomorrow what we’re looking at is changing the hours of the exiting of the island. Example, you’ll be able to go out with two lanes right up until about eight o’clock, which wasn’t the case today. So people are looking to get off island early tomorrow morning. Plan your trip before eight,” explained Hurley.