Traffic resumes on Highway 19 in Laval after storm damage, fire
Posted April 30, 2025 9:49 am.
Last Updated April 30, 2025 8:55 pm.
Downed power lines after the storm that hit Quebec on Tuesday evening caused part of Highway 19 to close in Laval, making the Wednesday morning commute difficult and leading to disruptions that lasted through the afternoon rush hour.
The closure, between Highway 440 and Saint-Martin Boulevard East, was caused by a fire that broke out overnight after a Hydro-Québec pole fell onto the roadway around 10 p.m.
“It’s a wooden pole that was impacted by the weather event,” Cendrix Bouchard, a Hydro-Québec spokesperson, told CityNews. “There was a fire on the pole which caused the top of the pole to break. We have to replace it.”
Bouchard added that the damaged pole was taller than most in Hydro-Québec’s network, which made finding a replacement more challenging. “We had to find one in our equipment,” he said.
By 10 a.m. Wednesday, a replacement pole had arrived on site, and crews began work to install it. “We’re going to be working towards putting it in ground as soon as possible,” Bouchard said.
Transports Québec confirmed on social media that Highway 19 would remain closed for part of the day to allow for emergency repairs:
“#A19 will remain closed between #A440 and Saint-Martin Boulevard East for part of the day to carry out work due to a fire that broke out last night on infrastructure belonging to a public service,” Transports Québec wrote on X.
#A19 restera fermée entre #A440 et blvd St-Martin Est pour une partie de la journée pour effectuer des travaux à cause d'un incendie survenu cette nuit sur une infrastructure appartenant à un service public qui chevauche l'autoroute. Congestion à prévoir https://t.co/EHXsCH1RiP https://t.co/bsnhRPltWi
— Transports Québec (@Transports_Qc) April 30, 2025
Later in the afternoon, they advised that the closure would likely continue beyond the evening rush hour, adding: “Traffic will be restored after the work is completed by Hydro-Québec and will be announced on @Qc511_Mtl.”
La fermeture de #A19 à #Laval va vraisemblablement se poursuivre au-delà de l'heure de pointe de l'après-midi. Le rétablissement de la circulation sera possible après la complétion des travaux par @hydroquebec et sera annoncé sur @Qc511_Mtl https://t.co/EHXsCH1RiP https://t.co/OqL0k6WFiE
— Transports Québec (@Transports_Qc) April 30, 2025
That update came just hours before the highway was fully reopened. According to Louis-André Bertrand, spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility (MTMD), traffic resumed around 8 p.m. Wednesday after repairs were completed.
The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) said the pole that fell may have been torn down by strong winds and thunderstorms that swept through the region Tuesday evening, ultimately sparking the fire and forcing the highway shutdown.
By Wednesday night, normal traffic flow had resumed, bringing relief to drivers after a day of major disruptions.
