Île Mercier bridge closed to vehicles as water level rises in Rivière des Prairies

While Montreal remains stable, other towns in Quebec have seen roads washed out as water levels rise and flooding causes havoc.

The City of Montreal is warning residents that the Île Mercier bridge is closed to vehicles due to the threat posed by rising water levels in the Rivière des Prairies.

The bridge, which links Île-Bizard with Île Mercier, was closed as of 7 p.m. Monday. Officials are asking residents to avoid the area and to follow detour signage. The bridge, however, remains open to pedestrians.

People who live on Île Mercier are preparing for the worst. Jean Oullette has lived through the major floods of 2017 and 2019, and now has a pump, a generator, sandbags, and even an inflatable boat just in case.

“You don’t have much time, because if the water comes up to here, then you cannot save anything. You have to save yourself,” he told CTV News on Monday.

• READ MORE: Some Quebec municipalities are grappling with serious flooding

Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada said so far, no one has been asked to evacuate their homes as officials keep a close eye on the situation.

In the Pierrefonds-Roxboro borough, Chemin de l’Anse-à-l’Orme was closed as a precaution Sunday at 5 p.m. between Chemin de Senneville and Rue Timberlea-Trail.

The borough and the area where the Île Mercier bridge is located are two of the areas at risk of serious flooding during the spring melt, according to the city’s website. Water levels are being continuously monitored and protective measures are in place for vulnerable areas.

Residents who wish to receive sandbags can contact their boroughs or municipalities, or call 311. Anyone who wishes to receive alerts from the city about flood risks can do so by visiting the city’s website.

Meanwhile, other parts of Quebec remain on alert, including Fort-Coulonge, in the Outaouais region, which declared a state of emergency on Sunday and handed out sandbags to affected households.

With files from CTV News’ Angela Mackenzie