Motorists traveling from the South Shore to Montreal encountered heavy congestion on Saturday and Sunday, August 29‑30, as the Samuel‑De Champlain and Victoria bridges, along with the Bonaventure highway, slowed weekend traffic.
The two bridges, primary links across the Saint Lawrence River, regularly see increased volumes on Saturdays and Sundays. This weekend, drivers reported long queues and reduced speeds, extending travel times for commuters and visitors heading into the city.
The Bonaventure highway, which connects the South Shore suburbs to downtown Montreal, also experienced significant slowdowns. Its role as a major artery for weekend shoppers and leisure travelers made the bottleneck especially noticeable during the two‑day period.
Transportation officials noted that the congestion pattern aligns with typical weekend demand on these routes. The Samuel‑De Champlain and Victoria bridges, together with the Bonaventure corridor, are known to become choke points when traffic volumes rise, prompting authorities to monitor conditions and advise motorists of potential delays.
Drivers were urged to allow extra travel time, consider alternate routes, or shift departure times to avoid the worst of the gridlock. The weekend traffic highlights the ongoing challenge of moving many vehicles across limited crossings between the South Shore and Montreal.