By Robert Frank
www.thesuburban.com
Thought that swirling snowflakes were a sign that the summer construction season is over? You’re wrong.
Transport Quebec will again shut down Laval and North Shore highways as it continues to pursue its ambitious road repair plans.
Last Friday, Nov. 14, the province’s highway authority imposed partial nightly closures of northbound Highway 25, between Marcel Villeneuve and Mille Îles, as it fixes three overpasses.
Transport Quebec intends to continue the overnight closures through the end of November. It also warned that the right shoulder of the highway will remain closed night and day, save for rush hour, when it will continue to expedite carpoolers and bus commuters.
Then, starting Friday, Nov. 21, Transport Quebec plans to restrict traffic overnight on Highway 440 in Laval between Highway 13 and Highway 19, while it replaces the current lighting with a new illumination system.
The closures will range from restricting traffic to fewer lanes, all the way to full detours along alternate roads. Want specifics as to what will be closed, when and where? Transport Quebec has promised to publish details on its www.quebec511.info website.
As this week’s edition of The Suburban went to press, the following locations were on Transport Quebec’s to-do list:
• Highway 440 junctions with Highways 13, 15 and 19.
• Highway 440 exit at Industriel
• Highway 440 median between Industriel and Highway 19
• Highway 15 median between Tessier and Monterey
• Highway 19 median from St. Martin to north of Highway 440
“The [Transport] Ministry knows the headaches this roadwork entails and thanks you for your understanding,” Transport Quebec said in a statement.
It added that it expects the lighting replacement project to continue “through until the end of 2015.”
“The streetlights will be swapped and new lighting towers will be added,” it explained.
Finally, North Shore motorists will face disruption tonight, as Transport Quebec makes modifications that will permit the Train de l’Est commuter train project to proceed.
It intends to close eastbound Highway 640 between Dumais and Pionniers in Terrebonne. A detour will divert drivers along Dumais to Quatre Arpents. From there, they must meander along Pionniers and Marcel Therrien in order to get back onto eastbound Highway 640.
Workers plan shut the Dumais entrance ramp at 10 p.m. tonight; followed by a complete closure of eastbound Highway 640 at 11 p.m. Traffic is slated to return to normal at 5 a.m., tomorrow morning.
Transport Quebec warned that the work could be postponed in the event of inclement weather tonight.
