From construction sites to major cycling events: Montreal drivers brace for traffic headaches in September

Montreal drivers are heading into one of the city’s toughest traffic months in years.

Forty-two major construction sites in the region, the return to school and work for many, and two major cycling events are all converging on the city’s roads.

“Traditionally, September is the worst month of the year because it is the one month where everyone is back from holiday, back to school. The roads are full,” said traffic expert Rick Leckner.

Transport Québec says the number of major construction sites isn’t unusual compared with previous years. But this September comes with the complication of the UCI Road World Championships.

“There are a few closures that the population should be aware of,” said Sarah Bensadoun, a spokesperson for Transport Québec. “One of them is complete closure of Highway 10, so Bonaventure in the direction of downtown Montreal. That will be in effect between September 19 to September 22.

“There is also the closure of the Champlain Bridge towards Montreal as well, September 26 and 27 in the mornings.”

Also closed for about a month – from Sept. 4 to Oct. 4 – is a stretch of Park Avenue between Mont Royal and des Pins avenues, where the races will end.

“We completely understand that what we are doing is very disruptive,” said Bensadoun. “It does have an impact on the citizens’ daily lives.”

Transport Québec added that drivers can turn to real-time information before and during their trips, including Quebec 511 and electronic highway signs. The cycling championship’s website also has interactive maps with real-time information for each race and affected regions.

“The best advice is try to carpool, try if possible to use public transit,” said Leckner.

“And people have to take advantage of the public transit facilities that do exist.”

CityNews spoke to Montrealers who are bracing for the traffic headaches.

“You can’t drive here. It’s awful,” one person said.

“I was born in Montreal and I’ve known the city for a very long time, and this is definitely quite a busy September in terms of traffic,” said another.

“With the start of school, there’s more traffic, but it’s moving along at a steady pace. We can’t go any faster,” said a third.

One Montreal driver was trying to get across the mountain.

“They are blocking the way up the hill, so I had to take a 30-minute detour,” they said.

Another said Montrealers have come to learn to live with traffic.

“We have no choice. What can you do?” they said. “You gotta just wait it out and wait your turn and cross the red light when you can, when it’s green and so forth.”