Montreal Braces for Weekend Traffic Chaos with St. Patrick's Parade and Major Closures
Montreal residents and visitors should prepare for significant traffic disruptions this weekend, as the annual St. Patrick's Parade and several infrastructure projects will impact key routes across the city. The festivities and ongoing work are set to cause delays, particularly in downtown areas and on major highways.
St. Patrick's Parade to Shut Down Downtown Streets
The highlight of the weekend is the St. Patrick's Parade, a celebration of Montreal's rich Irish heritage. On Sunday, de Maisonneuve Blvd. will be closed between St-Marc St. and St-Laurent Blvd. from 8 a.m. until the parade concludes in the afternoon. Neighbouring streets will also be affected for staging, teardown, and parking, making downtown travel challenging. Motorists are strongly advised to avoid this area or plan alternative routes to bypass the congestion.
Highway and Tunnel Closures Add to Commuter Woes
In addition to parade-related closures, several highways will face restrictions. The La Fontaine Tunnel on Highway 25 will be closed in both directions from 11 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, affecting travel between Montreal and Île Charron. Souligny Ave. will also be closed over the highway during this period.
Highway 19, particularly the Papineau-Leblanc Bridge, is another area to avoid, with partial or complete nightly closings until the end of 2026. Currently, only two lanes are open in each direction, leading to potential bottlenecks.
Other notable disruptions include:
- Highway 40: The Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge will be closed in both directions from 12:59 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday for maintenance, with the toll on Highway 30 suspended during this time. Weather conditions may postpone the work.
- Highway 20: Work resumes Sunday on a reserved eastbound lane between Ste-Julie and Beloeil, with two lanes open in each direction but possible entrance and exit closures until November.
- Route 138: One lane will be closed in each direction at Clément St. from Friday to April 18 due to construction.
Ongoing Street and Public Transit Disruptions
Montreal streets will also see continued disruptions from various projects. De Lorimier Ave. is closed northbound between René-Lévesque Blvd. and de Maisonneuve Blvd. on weekdays for six weeks for water infrastructure work. Viger Ave. has lane closures for water main replacement, while de Châteaubriand Ave. will be closed from Friday until the end of June for sewer work.
Public transit is not immune to the chaos. The REM train system has trains from Brossard alternating between Deux-Montagnes and Bois-Franc destinations, with display boards at stations guiding passengers. Additionally, the Berri-UQAM métro station work has led to closures on Berri St. and de Maisonneuve Blvd. until November 2027, with detours in place for traffic and cyclists. STM buses 30 and 50 have been shortened, and express bus 427 is suspended, with extra departures added to the 27 bus on St-Joseph Blvd.
Other ongoing issues include lane reductions on Pie-IX Blvd. for SRB extension work and the closure of the St-Urbain St. overpass until the end of 2026, though pedestrian access remains open.
Tips for Navigating the Weekend
To minimize inconvenience, consider using public transit where possible, checking real-time traffic updates, and allowing extra travel time. Avoiding downtown on Sunday during the parade and steering clear of Highway 19 and the La Fontaine Tunnel overnight Friday into Saturday are recommended strategies. With multiple projects converging, planning ahead is essential for a smoother weekend commute in Montreal.
