Montreal residents and visitors face significant transportation challenges this weekend as a major STM strike coincides with planned infrastructure closures across the city.
Complete STM Service Shutdown
All bus and métro services operated by the Société de transport de Montréal will be completely suspended from 4 a.m. on Saturday until 4 a.m. on Monday unless a last-minute agreement is reached with the union representing drivers and operators. The strike affects all regular STM services, though adapted transit will continue operating.
Other transit agencies including the STL, RTL, Exo, and the REM remain unaffected by the labor action. Transportation officials anticipate the transit shutdown will push many commuters to use personal vehicles, potentially creating heavy traffic conditions across Montreal island.
REM Offers Free Rides During Open House
Coinciding with the transportation disruptions, the Réseau Express Métropolitain is hosting a weekend open house to celebrate the official opening of its Deux-Montagnes branch on Monday. Free train rides will be available across the entire REM network from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
However, passengers should note that while REM rides are free during the open house, connecting transit services to reach REM stations will require regular payment. Due to anticipated high demand, bicycles and animals will not be permitted on REM trains this weekend.
Beginning Monday, the REM will operate regular service to and from Deux-Montagnes station during daytime hours, with service terminating at Côte-de-Liesse station after 9 p.m. The last departure from Central Station toward Deux-Montagnes will be at 8:45 p.m., while the final departure from Deux-Montagnes will leave at 9 p.m.
Major Road and Tunnel Closures
The Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine Tunnel faces overnight closures throughout the weekend, adding to transportation challenges. Southbound lanes from Sherbrooke Street to Île Charron will be closed from 11 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday. Northbound lanes from Route 132 to Yves-Prévost Boulevard will see closures from 11 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday and again from 11 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.
Additional road closures include Souligny Avenue eastbound over the highway, which will be shut down from 10:30 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Saturday.
On Highway 30, eastbound lanes between the Highway 10 exit and the following entrance will be completely closed from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday, with detours available via the service road.
In Vaudreuil-Dorion, De la Gare Boulevard near the Exo train station will be closed between Cité-des-Jeunes Boulevard and Maurice-Richard Street from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Monday.
Continuing Infrastructure Projects
Several ongoing construction projects continue to affect Montreal traffic patterns. On Highway 10, a westbound lane on the Bonaventure Expressway remains closed between the Victoria Bridge and Wellington Street until December. The Clément Bridge connecting Montreal with Nuns' Island continues operating with contraflow traffic and one lane in each direction until December.
The Papineau-Leblanc Bridge (Highway 19) maintains two lanes in each direction, though partial or complete nightly closures may occur until the end of 2026.
The Île-aux-Tourtes Bridge (Highway 40) operates with only five lanes—two in each direction plus one alternating lane during rush hours. The westbound exit for Senneville Road remains closed until December.
In Terrebonne, Highway 40 between the Charles de Gaulle Bridge and Highway 640 continues with lane reductions, featuring two lanes in each direction and a fifth alternating lane that runs westbound from midnight to 10 a.m. on weekdays and eastbound from noon to 10 p.m. on weekdays and all weekends.
Work on extending the Blue Line métro forces closures along sections of Jean-Talon Street, with affected bus routes including the 141 and 372 being detoured onto Bélanger and Everett Streets. A temporary shuttle bus operates along Jean-Talon and Bélanger Streets to accommodate passengers.
On Pie-IX Boulevard in Mercier—Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, only one lane remains open in each direction between Pierre-de-Coubertin Avenue and Notre-Dame Street due to SRB Pie-IX extension work. While Ste-Catherine Street (eastbound only) and Hochelaga Street remain accessible through Pie-IX, other cross streets west of Pie-IX are closed.
The St-Urbain Street overpass above the Ville-Marie Expressway remains closed for extensive renovations until the end of 2026, though pedestrian access is maintained.
Some positive news for downtown commuters: the Ste-Catherine Street West construction site between Peel and de la Montagne Streets and Mackay and Pierce Streets is being dismantled, with full traffic restoration expected by Monday. Guy Street has already reopened completely to traffic, though construction will resume in January following the holiday period.
Additionally, the pedestrian and bike path on the Olivier-Charbonneau Bridge connecting Montreal and Laval closes for winter season on Saturday, scheduled to reopen on April 15.
Not all planned work will proceed this weekend, however. Officials have cancelled some projects, including work on the Honoré-Mercier Bridge, due to unfavorable weather forecasts.
