La Fontaine tunnel partially shut for next three years
Posted October 31, 2022 9:05 am.
The much anticipated road-work in the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel began Monday morning forcing the closure of three out of six lanes. Two lanes remain open Montreal bound, and one lane is open heading South-bound.
The tunnel will stay partially closed for three years, until November 2025, and the effects are expected to be felt on and off the Island.
Quebec’s Transport Ministry warns it will be a challenge for everyone but they have put some “Plan B” options in place.
Firstly, they encourage all commuters to carpool in order to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Carpoolers can take advantage of reserved bus lanes.
They also suggest working from home or travelling off peak hours, if possible.
Free public transit is also being offered to cross to-and-from the South Shore, including buses and free STM rides from Radisson metro station.
Free parking lots have been added in Beloeil, Boucherville, Varennes and Sainte-Julie with shuttle buses taking commuters to the Radisson metro station.
The STM is also increasing service on the yellow metro line from Longueil.
Visit this website to see the full list of options available for commuters.
You can also consult this interactive map before leaving home to determine what the current wait time is in the tunnel.
#WATCH: Day 1 of closures of lanes to and from Montreal via the LaFontaine tunnel. Motorists are now feeling the headaches of two lanes only coming into Montreal and one lane outbound.
READ: https://t.co/0zWfe1vOPR pic.twitter.com/F73bfKkSl7
— Alyssia (@rubertuccinews) October 31, 2022
In August, Quebec announced the 55-year-old LaFontaine tunnel was in rough shape and would need work. The initial price tag was $900 million.
Some 120,000 vehicles drive through the tunnel daily, approximately 15,000 of those are trucks.
