Steve CDN
Well-known member
Having traveled this route for decades, on my way to and from Quebec City and Ottawa, I was pleased to experience the brand new highway 30 opened in January 2013 to bypass the entire City of Montreal.
Provincial highway 30, a divided freeway (60 mph / 100 k/hr) has been under construction for nearly twenty years, with unconnected segments in use over the years.
The road is now completed, and can be accessed from the West from Ontario 417 from Ottawa,as well as Ontario 401 from Toronto, and I-85 coming from Syracuse.
Highway 30 can be used to access Quebec 15 that connects with I-87, Quebec 10 that connects with I-81 and the Eastern Townships including Quebec 55 that leads to I-81.
Most important is the ability to connect to Quebec 20, that goes to Quebec City, the Gasp? Peninsula and ultimately to the Maritimes: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
Before Highway 30 became available, it was necessary to cross the City of Montreal along congested, poorly maintained complicated roads, with signage that leaves a lot to be desired.
Highway 30 is well indicated, except for those traveling West, the signs indicate Vaudreuil/ Dorion as the destination, with no reference to Ottawa and Toronto....(go figure)
Eastbound destination is shown as Sorel / Tracy which is correct, so routing has to be set for the appropriate intersecting expressway.
Important Note: Although the road is a freeway, there is one toll to cross the bridge over the St. Lawrence River at the far West end of the Highway 30 at Beauharnois. Toll for a car is $1.50 while for large vehicles, motorhomes the toll is $1.15 per axle.
GPS maps may not yet have been updated with the entire road, but Google Maps does show the completed road. The street views of Google Maps show the road in the final phases of construction with lane closures, but the road as of May 29, 2013 is completely finished, divided and with lights and signs installed.
More information on the Quebec websites:
http://www.autoroute30.qc.ca/en/
http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/grands_projets/grands_projets_termines/parachevement_a30
(Use Google translate for the French text)
Provincial highway 30, a divided freeway (60 mph / 100 k/hr) has been under construction for nearly twenty years, with unconnected segments in use over the years.
The road is now completed, and can be accessed from the West from Ontario 417 from Ottawa,as well as Ontario 401 from Toronto, and I-85 coming from Syracuse.
Highway 30 can be used to access Quebec 15 that connects with I-87, Quebec 10 that connects with I-81 and the Eastern Townships including Quebec 55 that leads to I-81.
Most important is the ability to connect to Quebec 20, that goes to Quebec City, the Gasp? Peninsula and ultimately to the Maritimes: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
Before Highway 30 became available, it was necessary to cross the City of Montreal along congested, poorly maintained complicated roads, with signage that leaves a lot to be desired.
Highway 30 is well indicated, except for those traveling West, the signs indicate Vaudreuil/ Dorion as the destination, with no reference to Ottawa and Toronto....(go figure)
Eastbound destination is shown as Sorel / Tracy which is correct, so routing has to be set for the appropriate intersecting expressway.
Important Note: Although the road is a freeway, there is one toll to cross the bridge over the St. Lawrence River at the far West end of the Highway 30 at Beauharnois. Toll for a car is $1.50 while for large vehicles, motorhomes the toll is $1.15 per axle.
GPS maps may not yet have been updated with the entire road, but Google Maps does show the completed road. The street views of Google Maps show the road in the final phases of construction with lane closures, but the road as of May 29, 2013 is completely finished, divided and with lights and signs installed.
More information on the Quebec websites:
http://www.autoroute30.qc.ca/en/
http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/portal/page/portal/grands_projets/grands_projets_termines/parachevement_a30
(Use Google translate for the French text)