(Montreal) A major water leak broke out Friday morning in Montreal, near the Jacques Cartier Bridge, spilling a significant amount of water into nearby streets. The area should be avoided, and authorities recommend not taking the Jacques Cartier Bridge to enter the city.
The leak began shortly before 6 a.m. at the intersection of René-Lévesque Boulevard and De Lorimier Avenue. About an hour later, water was still flowing at a steady rate.
In images broadcast by TVA and Radio-Canada, we could see an impressive jet of water being projected into the air, subsequently flooding certain sections of René-Lévesque and Papineau streets, in particular.
A water main break is believed to be the cause of the leak, but the exact cause of the break was not immediately known.
“All teams are mobilized on the ground to identify the cause, close the valves and plan repairs,” wrote Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante on X.
She promised that further information would be released during the day.
Police officers from the Montreal Police Service (SPVM) were dispatched to the scene to close the impassable streets. Firefighters from the Montreal Fire Department (SIM) also went to the scene.
On the social network X, the SIM also asked the population to avoid the area of Sainte-Catherine Street East and De Lorimier Avenue due to “major” flooding.
For his part, officer Jean-Pierre Brabant, who is a spokesperson for the SPVM, mentioned that it would be preferable for motorists from the South Shore who had planned to use the Jacques-Cartier Bridge to enter Montreal on Friday morning to choose another route.
“A lot of water has accumulated in the area,” he confirmed.