Montreal Transit Adjusts for Nuit Blanche Celebrations
Montreal's public transit system is implementing special schedules this weekend to accommodate the city's Nuit Blanche all-night festival. The Réseau express métropolitain (REM) will operate with extended hours on Saturday but will close early on Friday due to planned maintenance work.
Weekend Transit Schedule Details
The Montreal métro system will remain open until two hours past its normal closing time on Saturday night. Last trains will depart from Berri-UQAM station at 3 a.m., providing additional transportation options for festival attendees. Meanwhile, the REM will run continuously throughout the entire night on Saturday to support the city-wide celebrations.
On Friday evening, however, the REM will shut down early as part of scheduled maintenance operations. The final trains will leave from both the Deux-Montagnes and Brossard stations at 8:10 p.m. Night bus services will maintain their regular schedules throughout the weekend.
Highway and Road Disruptions
While no major highway closures have been announced for this weekend, several ongoing construction projects continue to affect traffic patterns throughout the Montreal area.
The Charles-De Gaulle Bridge connecting Montreal and Terrebonne will operate with reduced capacity from Friday evening through Monday morning. From 9:30 p.m. on Friday until 4 a.m. on Monday, the bridge will be limited to two lanes in each direction with narrowed lanes measuring 3.3 metres wide and a reduced speed limit of 50 km/h.
Continuing Transportation Disruptions
Several major infrastructure projects continue to impact transportation throughout the region:
- Highway 10: Eastbound Exit 3 for Carrie-Derick Street remains permanently closed as part of the Bonaventure Expressway reconstruction project.
- Highway 19 (Papineau-Leblanc Bridge): Two lanes are available in each direction between Montreal and Laval, with partial or complete nighttime closures continuing through the end of 2026.
- Highway 40 (Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge): The bridge operates with five total lanes—two toward Montreal, two toward Vaudreuil-Dorion, and one alternating-direction lane that changes based on time of day and week.
- Jean-Talon Street: Construction for the Blue Line métro extension has closed sections of Jean-Talon Street, forcing bus detours and the implementation of temporary shuttle service along affected routes.
- Côte-Ste-Catherine Street (Outremont): Closed westbound between McEachran Avenue and Davaar Avenue until late March for emergency electrical repairs.
- Berri Street (Ville-Marie): Major renovation work at Berri-UQAM métro station has resulted in closures of Berri Street between Ste-Catherine and Ontario Streets, along with de Maisonneuve Boulevard between St-Denis and St-Hubert Streets until November 2027.
- Pie-IX Boulevard (Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve): Only one lane available in each direction between Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue and Notre-Dame Street due to SRB Pie-IX extension work.
- St-Urbain Street (Ville-Marie): The overpass above the Ville-Marie Expressway remains closed for extensive renovations through the end of 2026, though pedestrian access is maintained.
Transit authorities recommend checking specific service updates and alternative routes before traveling this weekend, particularly for those attending Nuit Blanche events or navigating affected construction zones.
