Dorval Tunnel closed after flooding, commuters asked to avoid area

Officials are making no guarantees about when the Dorval Tunnel will reopen after heavy rainfall caused water to accumulate.

Highway 13 is completely closed between highways 40 and 520.

Officials say they are hoping to reopen the tunnel by Wednesday evening, but can not make any promises at this point.

"The tunnel's pumping station was damaged by the backups of the municipal sewer collector that evacuates water from this section of Highway 13," explained Martin Girard, a spokesperson with the Quebec Transport Ministry.

The transport ministry is currently setting up a temporary pumping system to cope with any potential additional water accumulations.

Transport Quebec is asking road users to avoid the area and either work from home or use public transit until crews have completed their work.

"We would like to remind every road user that it’s strictly forbidden to cross a zone closed for flooding. There is police presence in place. Additional pumping systems are being set up at the moment and the reopening is undetermined," said Gilles Payer of Transport Quebec.

"For essential travel, road users are advised to use highways 40 and 520," added Girard, noting the advisory has been posted on several messaging boards in the area. 

Teams are looking at ways to mitigate flooding in the future, said Payer.

"The day we will have to redesign this infrastructure, naturally, the new standards that already exist in the ministry will be applied," he said. "The pumping system will be checked, improved, naturally. People are working on this right now. We have exceptional events and people that are working on getting over it faster and better in the future."