Weekend closures on Highway 20 aren't going anywhere. Here's what to expect
If your perfect summer Saturday involves a breezy drive across Highway 20, you might want to reconsider; construction will continue throughout the season and will likely cause some traffic jams.
According to Quebec's transport ministry, drivers can expect some kind of closure on the 20 every weekend until the end of fall.
The good news is these closures usually won't be as extreme as they were on May long weekend.
The highway was completely closed westbound between Exit 63 and the 1st Avenue entrance, as was the Route-138 eastbound ramp, causing some drivers to be stranded in traffic for hours.
A spokesperson for Transport Quebec said the summer weekend closures will be lighter -- but it's tricky to say exactly what they'll look like, as the plans are arranged week-by-week.
Drivers are advised to check Quebec 511 before hitting the road and adjust their travel plans accordingly.
In addition, scheduled closures can be reviewed each weekend on the Mobilite Montreal site.
"There's an [update] every weekend, so we cannot have the whole portrait for the summer," Martin Girard told CTV News, noting that construction work can be unpredictable and require sudden changes of plans.
"If I tell you today that we close July 15, for example, it's too far."
The one exception is Labour Day weekend (Sept. 2-4). Girard confirmed that the interchange will close again, this time in the eastbound direction.
"Highway 20 east will be closed for the same kind of work that was done this weekend," he said.
Listen on CJAD 800: This Montrealer shares what it was like being stuck on Highway 20
SATURDAY TRAFFIC 'WORSE THAN EXPECTED'
According to Transport Quebec, while the traffic levels on Sunday and Monday were as expected, conditions on Saturday were surprisingly bad.
Transport officials will meet this week to determine what went wrong, according to Girard.
"For Saturday, the delays were worse than we expected," Girard said. "We will have a meeting this week to talk about what happened Saturday [...] and to see what can be done better next time."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Eurovision Song Contest final kicks off after protests, backstage chaos and a contestant's expulsion
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest finally got down to musical business Saturday in the Swedish city of Malmo after days of protests and offstage drama that have tipped the feelgood musical celebration into a chaotic pressure cooker overshadowed by the war in Gaza.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Man arrested after allegedly caught trespassing at Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Toronto police say a man has been taken into custody after he was allegedly caught trespassing at Drake's mansion in Bridle Path Saturday afternoon.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.