Hwy. 13 in Montreal expected to reopen Thursday morning: public security minister

Dorval Tunnel closed after heavy rainfall (CTV News / Dave Touniou)

Highway 13 in Montreal should reopen Thursday morning, said Quebec's public security minister.

Francois Bonnardel gave an update on the flooding situation in the province Wednesday morning, after a record-breaking deluge Friday left many homes and roadways flooded and forced evacuations and road closures.

Highway 13 has been completely closed between highways 40 and 520 since Friday.

"If all goes well, we should be able to reopen Highway 13 tomorrow morning," said Bonnardel. "Engineers and crews are working extremely hard to reopen this infrastructure for drivers, truckers and everyone."

According to officials, the tunnel's pumping station was damaged by the backups of the municipal sewer collector that evacuates water from this section of Highway 13. The transport ministry set up a temporary pumping system to cope with any potential additional water accumulations.

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

For essential travel, road users have been asked to use highways 40 and 520.

Pumping and lighting tests underway

A spokesperson for Transport Quebec explained that complex work and testing is still underway.

“At this point, machinery, engines, must be dried and repaired and reinstalled,” said spokesperson Gilles Payer. “We [will] test all this equipment to make it safe for opening all the way in both directions for Highway 13. These tests will be conducted to ensure that everything is functional before opening.”

Water remains inside the Dorval Tunnel at this time, he said.

"There's a three-level power station that has been damaged by water and then [we have to] repair the actual pump," he said. "We have a temporary additional pump to do the job. When we are ready to plug everything in, then it will get faster."

Payer said in addition to the pumping challenge, there's a lighting challenge. Temporary lighting powered by a generator must be functioning before drivers can be allowed into the tunnel.

"You cannot allow people to go in a tunnel if there's no light, absolutely not. And the electrical network has been damaged,” he said.

Rogue driver entered tunnel: 'Don't do this'

Payer said a driver attempted to travel into the tunnel – and became stuck in the water. It didn’t impact work but disturbed operations as Transport Quebec staff had to assist the man.

“What I heard is the guy stopped, [moved] the orange cone beside and slipped through the forbidden way. That was not allowed, but he did it anyway," he said, cautioning others against attempting the same. "Don’t do this.”