Montreal drivers brace for traffic as construction holiday comes to an end

The provincial construction holiday is officially over, as workers wearing hardhats returned to area roads. Far from getting a shock of sudden traffic, Montreal drivers saw a slow ramp-up of congestion.

“We’re still seeing people ease back in,” said traffic analyst Rick Leckner. “Don’t forget, today is still a holiday in the rest of Canada. Some people may have taken it off.”

But Leckner warned that the second half of August could contain a nasty surprise for area motorists, as work on the Turcot Interchange and the Decarie Expressway continue.

Leckner warned that drivers should be prepared for headaches in the second half of the month. “Oh it’ll come,” he said. “I mean one thing we’re consistent at is getting stuck in traffic.”