Monster rush: You have to “develop a reflex to call 511,” says Guilbault

After last weekend’s monstrous traffic jams that made getting to Montreal-Trudeau airport so difficult, you should “develop a reflex to call 511” to plan your trips, according to Genevieve Guilbault, Minister of Transportation and Sustainable Mobility.

The concrete work, which caused the complete closure of westbound Highway 20 at the Saint-Pierre interchange, had ramifications as far as customs in Lacol, where it took four hours for people to return to the country.

The family, who had to get to the airport to catch their flight on a Saturday afternoon, took 3.5 hours to complete the normally 20-minute journey.

“It’s crazy, people are getting off to fix their cars,” Jonathan Santos, the taxi driver transporting them, told TVA Novelles. Jumping JackThey took their dog out in the middle of the highway where women were urinating on the side of the highway.

“When I see people walking with suitcases on the shoulders of the highway for fear of missing their flight, and unfortunately for some who miss their flight, I find that it doesn’t make good sense,” commented M.^me Guilbault, next to the Council of Ministers on Wednesday.

Another “communication challenge”

Recalling the important catch-up required in terms of road infrastructure, Mr.^me Guilbault recalled that the work done on the St-Pierre interchange was “necessary” and “necessary” to ensure the problems did not escalate.

“We publish press releases every Friday, but not everyone consults them. We have to find a way to be better,” agreed the Deputy Prime Minister.

This, according to her, is another file that poses a “communication challenge” to her ministry.

To better plan their trips, “People need to know in advance the construction sites they’re going to be there, go to Reflex and know 511,” says Ms.^me Guilbault.