Storm Beryl | Road network under pressure in Montreal due to rain

The arrival of the storm Beryl is already being felt in Montreal, where several major arteries, including the Metropolitan Highway, were closed Wednesday afternoon due to flooding, heralding a nightmarish rush hour.

At around 4:20 p.m., the Ministry of Transportation announced the closure of Highway 40, between Highway 13 and Cavendish Boulevard. Since 2:45 p.m., Highway 15 southbound was to be avoided since the ramp connecting to Highway 40 eastbound was closed due to “water accumulation,” according to what the Ministry of Transportation announced on X.

By late afternoon, Highway 15 northbound, near Côte-Saint-Luc and Jean-Talon Street, where the Sûreté du Québec had helped evacuate motorists stuck in their vehicles, had been reopened to traffic.

The same goes for Highway 13, which was closed northbound between Hickmore Street and Highway 520.

“Postpone your travel and do not cross a flooded road,” the ministry said, citing high risks of aquaplaning. “If you are stuck in a pool of water, stay in your vehicle and contact emergency services,” it continued.

Quebec has opened the emergency measures centre for the Montreal region in response. “The city’s sewer network is no longer sufficient. […] “Significant accumulations of water on the roads or sewer backups have been observed in several places,” says the government, which already says it has counted “several abandoned vehicles, but no injuries.”

Chemin des Moulins, located under the Bonaventure Expressway, also had to be closed due to bad weather, said the Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Corporation (JCCBI).

In southern Quebec, precipitation from the storm is expected to peak overnight Wednesday into Thursday, with some thunderstorms, and then continue into Thursday. Rainfall will be especially intense in areas south of the St. Lawrence River, very close to the U.S. border.

Calls for vigilance

In total, between 40 and 70 millimetres of rain and moderate winds are expected in the Montreal region. Locally, rainfall amounts could exceed 100 millimetres, Environment Canada warned in a warning issued Wednesday.

“Heavy rains may cause flash flooding and water accumulation on roads. Localized flooding is possible in low-lying areas,” the federal agency noted.

In writing, the office of the Minister of Transport, Geneviève Guilbault, called on Wednesday for great vigilance across the entire network.

“Following the heavy rainfall of the last few hours, several roads and access routes had to be closed. Citizens are asked to be careful on the road and to consult 511 to plan their trips,” it was stated.

The City on the Lookout

On the Montreal municipal network, several arteries were flooded with water in the afternoon, again often because the sewer systems were overflowing. The City of Montreal says it is on the lookout.

“Our teams are closely monitoring the situation and are ready to intervene if necessary. So far, the center of the island seems to have been the most affected by the heavy rains,” said a spokesperson for the city, Hugo Bourgouin. He says that due to climate change, “there will be very intense rains more frequently.”

To become “more resilient,” the city is investing in sponge parks—there are just under ten of them so far—that reduce flood risks by collecting water that accumulates during heavy rains, Bourgouin said. He also invites building owners to ensure that they have check valves on all plumbing equipment in the basement.

On the public transportation side, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) warned that “due to the rain of the last few hours and the accumulation of water in several sectors, some bus lines are on detour and delays could occur,” inviting users to plan their trips accordingly, either on its website or via the Transit and Chrono applications.

Montreal airport has called for extreme caution for motorists who are due to take a plane on Wednesday. Congestion is likely to be significant.