Dorval mayor wants a solution for potholes in Dorval Circle

The Mayor of Dorval is speaking out about the many potholes on the Dorval Circle.

Even though the circle is located in Dorval, Mayor Marc Doret says this road and access ramps are the responsibility of Quebec’s Transport Ministry.

“Two days ago, we received an email that this big pothole that we have has been fixed and the file is closed and everything’s okay for the public,” he said.

But drivers are finding it hard to navigate through the large potholes. Some complained to CTV News that they’ve already had to pay for expensive repairs.

The worst area of the road is in front of VIA Rail Station.

In an email to CTV News, a spokesperson for Transport Quebec said the roundabout itself is not the ministry’s responsibility, claiming only the motorway sections on Highways 20 and 520 are Ministry jurisdiction. The ministry says the entrance to the VIA Rail station is the train carrier’s responsibility.

VIA Rail agrees that the access ramp to their train station is their responsibility and said in an email that a pothole repair operation is scheduled for Friday. The surface leading to the VIA property remains very uneven.

“This is really an MTQ issue and the MTQ should be responsible for filling the potholes that are around the Rond Point Dorval,” said Doret, adding that the area is dangerous for drivers and that he’s concerned about potential accidents.

“One of the frustrations here is that people swerve to avoid the pothole. They don’t want to blow tires. And so that creates another element where you might hit someone in another car,” he said.

Because of the airport, cars, trains and buses are travelling through the Circle – so the problem affects more than residents, said Doret.

“This is the point of entry for many tourists and business people coming in from the airport and their first impression of arriving in Montreal is the infamous potholes,” he said.

CTV reached out to the Transport Ministry’s office for further reaction and did not hear back by deadline.

On Monday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and Mobilité Montréal clarified via email that pothole repairs have indeed been carried out.

“Since October 15, 2025, the Department has intervened in the Dorval roundabout area more than 15 times to repair the roadway,” said spokesperson Sarah Bensadoun. “These interventions consisted solely of emergency pothole repairs due to winter weather conditions.”

Bensadoun specified that given the winter conditions, only urgent repairs—or temporary repairs at best—are possible.

“Permanent repairs can only be carried out when the temperature is above 10°C and there is no precipitation. More durable repairs will be carried out as soon as weather conditions allow," she said.