By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

A wave of construction projects at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport is making travel to and from the airport significantly more challenging this year, with motorists, pedestrians, and public transit users all feeling the effects. The work, part of a long-term overhaul of airport infrastructure, is scheduled to continue for several years and is aimed at modernizing access, parking, and passenger drop-off areas.

This summer, a series of closures and detours have gone into effect, most notably impacting parking and the key roads that funnel traffic to the airport. The ramp to the P4 parking lot is closed, and both the central multi-level parking structure and the P5 lot are set to shut down before the year’s end. With two of the largest parking options unavailable, pressure on remaining lots has increased, resulting in lengthy searches for spaces and congestion spilling onto highways.

The drop-off and pick-up zones at the terminal are also under strain. Vehicle lineups are common during peak hours, with queues sometimes extending onto the service roads and even the expressways. New drop-off areas are promised as part of the ongoing upgrades, but for now, travelers face long waits and a constantly shifting traffic pattern.

Construction on the surrounding road network is compounding the situation. The most affected route is Highway 520 (Autoroute Côte-de-Liesse), which is undergoing major work, particularly westbound and in the area around the Dorval roundabout. Complete closures of Highway 520 westbound towards Highway 20 are scheduled at various times, with detours rerouting traffic via feeder roads such as Côte-de-Liesse Boulevard. There are also closures of the entrance from A-520 to A-40 East during nights and weekends. The Dorval interchange—where Autoroutes 20, 520, and 13 intersect—is also subject to partial or complete night-time and weekend closures, causing additional delays for airport-bound traffic. Service roads adjacent to these highways are sometimes reduced or closed, further complicating access.

Pedestrians are not immune to the disruptions. With traditional access points shifting and signage frequently changing, many can be seen walking along ramps intended for vehicles. As one Uber driver told The Suburban, this is something he now suggests to clients—dropping them off near the base of the ramp without getting into the thick of traffic. “Some clients just jump out and decide to make a run for it,” he added, describing how travellers are improvising to avoid missing flights.

The timing of these projects coincides with record-high passenger numbers at Montreal-Trudeau. More than 6.8 million travelers are expected to pass through the airport this summer, putting further strain on already stretched resources. According to airport authorities, the upgrades are necessary to handle future growth, with plans for expanded parking, improved access roads, and new drop-off and pick-up areas.

Temporary mitigation measures are in place, including limited free parking and regularly updated traffic information through the Québec 511 service. These arrangements may change as construction progresses. No definitive timeline has been provided for the completion of the major phases, but work is expected to continue for several years.

Travelers and local residents are encouraged to check official information sources before heading to the airport, plan for extra travel time, and be prepared for last-minute changes to parking and access. Until construction is complete, significant delays and detours are expected to persist around Montreal’s main airport and the highways that feed into it. n