Two bridge closures and a parade will complicate driving

Drivers will need to plan their routes carefully getting on or off the island or driving in the city this weekend, with two bridge closures and the partial shutdown of Renélévesque Blvd. Saturday and the St. Patrick's parade Sunday.

ÎLE-AUX-TOURTES BRIDGE

The Île-aux-tourtes Bridge on Highway 40, connecting Montreal Island with Vaudreuil-dorion, is closed in both directions until 5 a.m. Monday to allow for preparatory work on the approaches to the new bridge. Westbound access to Senneville Rd. will still be available. The ramp from Highway 30 to Highway 40 east toward the Îleaux-tourtes Bridge will be closed. Drivers are advised to take Highways 20 and 30. As of Monday at 5 a.m., the temporary configuration of two lanes open westbound and one lane eastbound toward Montreal will be resumed.

PAPINEAU-LEBLANC BRIDGE

The Papineau-leblanc Bridge is being closed so braces can be replaced. As of Friday, Highway 19 (Papineau Blvd.) will be completely closed southbound between Highway 440 and Henri-bourassa Blvd. Access to St-martin Blvd. along the service road is being maintained. Northbound, the highway will be closed between Henri-bourassa and de la Concorde Blvds. Drivers can use Highway 15 or PIE-IX Blvd. instead. The bridge will reopen Monday at 4:30 a.m.

RENÉ-LÉVESQUE BLVD.

On Saturday, three of four lanes on René-lévesque Blvd. will be closed for city repair work from 7 a.m. till 6 p.m. between De Bleury and Jeanne-mance Sts.

DE MAISONNEUVE BLVD.

On Sunday, the St. Patrick's parade will force the complete closure of de Maisonneuve Blvd. between Chomedey St. and St-laurent Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fort St., St-marc St. and part of Ste-catherine St. will also be closed as they are used as staging areas for parade floats. Access to René-lévesque Blvd. from the Guy St. exit of Route 136 will be maintained, though it will be used for parade float drop-offs in the morning between St-marc and Fort.