Springtime pothole blooms in Montreal spark political debates
ROUGH ROAD AHEAD: MONTREAL'S POTHOLE PRISON
Hit the road in Montreal, and you'll need more than just a garage-fresh ride to handle the challenges. In winter, the streets turn into an obstacle course with snow-covered, icy roads. When spring arrives, the potholes come out to play, transforming smooth tarmac into a minefield. A moment of distraction, and kiss your car goodbye. And Montrealers, they're beyond fed up, with the city fielding over 4,000 complaints about these treacherous craters since the new year of 2025.
Post after enraged post on social media paints a grim picture of bustling city streets as battlegrounds or third-world hellscapes.
But don't let the frustration blind you to the city's bigger picture. Montreal's got some big infrastructure projects brewing, pumping resources into the city's core. For example, the Sherbrooke Street aqueduct work that's closing lanes in Montreal West till August 2025, requiring local traffic adjustments. And there's the Papineau-Leblanc Bridge repairs, set to last from April 2025 to 2026, causing weekend closures and sustained lane reductions. But don't fret — they've recommended detours via the A-15 and Pie-IX bridges.
To help you navigate these construction zones, the city's got some traffic-mitigating measures in store. They've expanded the RTL-462 Health Shuttle service to major hospitals since December 2024, and they've increased bus frequencies on the exo-520 and other routes in Boucherville/Longueuil areas. And if that's not enough, they're communicating with drivers to make sure nobody gets caught off-guard by these projects. Detailed closure notices and real-time route plans — courtesy of Québec 511 — are here to keep everything running smoothly.
So, yeah, potholes are a pain in Montreal. But remember: Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was Montreal. The city's doing its best to keep things moving for you, driver. Just watch out for those potholes.
- Montrealers, dismayed by the persistent issue of potholes, have lodged over 4,000 complaints since the start of 2025.
- In 2025, while Montrealers contend with snow-filled winter roads and pothole-riddled spring streets, the city is working on major infrastructure projects.
- To improve their home-and-garden and maintain a lifestyle free of detours, Montrealers should stay informed about the city's traffic-mitigating measures, such as increased bus frequencies on certain routes like the exo-520.
- Despite the inconvenience potholes may cause, remembering that Montreal's development takes time and continuing to take care of one's pets on their journeys can help maintain a positive outlook during construction.
