All lanes of the Honoré-Mercier Bridge reopen after a crack found in a steel beam closed one lane last week
La Presse reported on 19 October that all lanes of the Honoré-Mercier Bridge have reopened. Quebec's transport ministry found the crack on 13 October during maintenance work on a steel beam under the downstream structure on the Montreal side. It closed the left lane toward Montreal that Tuesday afternoon as a precaution. The ministry scheduled repair work for 17 to 19 October and said one lane would stay open in each direction during the repairs. Noovo reported the crack measured between 14 and 30 centimetres. The ministry said the bridge remained safe for traffic, and the Highway 30 toll was to be suspended during the work.
The bridge is a main link between Montreal and the South Shore, so even a one-lane closure caused congestion. A quick repair shows the ministry treated a structural crack as urgent.
Commuters between Kahnawake, Châteauguay and Montreal should see normal lane capacity again. Check Québec 511 for any remaining restrictions, since the toll suspension and detours may be lifted.
The transport ministry says the bridge stayed safe throughout and that the preventive closure and quick repair resolved the matter.
The mayor of Châteauguay has called for a new bridge and better public transit, arguing that closures like this show the limits of the existing structure.
Confirmed: the lanes are open again and the repair was scheduled for 17 to 19 October. Not confirmed: whether further inspections will follow or what caused the crack. Watch for the ministry's inspection report and any announcement on a replacement bridge.
DailyDrop Canada edition No. 15 · Morning · MON., OCT. 19, 2026