Drivers in Montreal’s West Island are bracing for a traffic headache that could morph into a full-blown nightmare.
School starts back in session the last week of August, meaning there may be more vehicles on an already congested Saint-Jean Boulevard.
“As of now, I’ve been coming here every morning and it’s not too bad. We’ll see next week,” mused Sebastien Marcotte, a commuter.
Residents from Pierrefonds-Roxboro, Kirkland, Dollard-des-Ormeaux (DDO) and Pointe-Claire could be affected.
“It’s going to be a nightmare,” said Sandra Fruth, who works in the transportation industry.
“Even if you’re not going to school — because of school buses, people carpooling and everything.”
Hydro-Quebec is spearheading roadwork on the major boulevard, the bulk of which is taking place in DDO, to replace fibre optics and electrical wires.
The work is slated to last until the end of the September, but Fruth said she doubts it will be done that soon.
“Even trying to go for lunch, it’s a detour,” she said.
“Everyone on the West Island right off of this main street, there’s construction.”
Drivers worry that an already difficult traffic scenario will get worse as buses and additional cars hit the road as school returns.
The first day back for some is as early as Tuesday.