Watermain break in Montreal’s Plateau area forces Mont-Royal Avenue closure

Crews were out on Feb. 8, 2025 to repair a watermain break on the corner of Mont-Royal Avenue and Brebeuf Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood. (Scott Prouse / CTV News)

Residents in an area of Montreal’s Plateau neighbourhood woke up to a surprising amount of water on the road and even some issues with water flow from their taps after a watermain broke.

The City of Montreal said that an aqueduct broke around 5:20 a.m. at the Brebeuf Street – Mont-Royal Avenue intersection.

The break caused crews to close Mont-Royal between De La Roche Street and Chambord Street and between Marie-Anne Street East and Mont-Royal.

“The current hypothesis is that it is probably an 8 or 12-inch pipe on the secondary network,” the city told CTV News. “We are seeing a drop in water pressure in the adjacent area following the closure of the valves.”

The city added that the pipe was installed in 1897.

No buildings were evacuated.

The city said that runoff water is being channelled to sump pumps and that the situation is under control while they find and repair the leak.

The city is asking residents to avoid the area.

The situation is expected to return to normal by Sunday afternoon.