Pointe‑Claire, Quebec — December 5, 2025 — Drivers heading to CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire and the surrounding West Island area are being urged to plan extra travel time as lane reductions linked to the Réseau express métropolitain (REM) continue on Fairview Avenue through Friday, December 5, 2025. The work is part of ongoing construction around the future Fairview–Pointe‑Claire REM station and follows a full closure of the same stretch of road in late November. [1]
What’s happening on Fairview Avenue?
According to the City of Pointe‑Claire, REM construction is temporarily narrowing Fairview Avenue from December 3 to 5, 2025. [2]
During this period:
- Each direction of Fairview Avenue is reduced to a single lane.
- The lane reductions are directly tied to REM construction activities near the future Fairview–Pointe‑Claire station and related infrastructure. [3]
- The measures are in place during one of the busiest shopping weeks of the holiday season, increasing the risk of congestion around CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire. [4]
City officials emphasize that these lane reductions are temporary but necessary to keep workers and road users safe while major transit infrastructure is completed. [5]
Exact location of the lane reductions
The impacted stretch of Fairview Avenue is relatively short but strategically important, serving both mall traffic and access to the Highway 40 corridor.
Based on the official municipal notice and media reports, the lane reductions apply: [6]
- From: The westbound service road of Highway Félix‑Leclerc (A‑40)
- To: The entrance to the CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire mall parking lot, located behind the Rona hardware store
Within this zone:
- Traffic in both directions is funneled down to one lane.
- Drivers merging from or toward the A‑40 service road should expect slower queues and potentially longer waits to turn in or out of commercial parking lots.
- Access to businesses remains open, but manoeuvres may be tighter and slower because of narrowed roadway space and the presence of construction equipment.
The city is explicitly asking drivers to slow down, remain vigilant and watch for workers in and around the work zone. [7]
From full closure in November to lane reductions in December
The December 3–5 lane reductions are not the first disruption Fairview Avenue has seen in recent weeks.
On November 27 and 28, 2025, the City of Pointe‑Claire ordered a complete closure of the same segment of Fairview Avenue, also for REM-related work. [8]
Key details of that earlier closure include:
- Closure period: November 27 and 28, from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Closed segment: Between the westbound A‑40 service road and the entrance to the CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire mall parking, again behind the Rona hardware store. [9]
- Detours: Road users were directed via Charles‑E.-Frosst Street and Brunswick Boulevard, with a temporary pedestrian crossing maintained to preserve walkability and access. [10]
Those full closures allowed crews to carry out more disruptive operations that could not be safely done alongside moving traffic. The current three‑day lane reductions are a follow‑up phase intended to keep work progressing while restoring at least limited vehicle access through the corridor.
Part of the broader REM build‑out in the West Island
The work on Fairview Avenue is tied to the construction of the Fairview–Pointe‑Claire REM station and associated infrastructure near the CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire mall. That station, located directly on Fairview Avenue, is part of the REM’s West Island branch and is slated to open in 2026. [11]
The REM itself is a major automated light‑metro system that will ultimately include 26 stations and about 67 km of track, linking downtown Montréal with suburbs including the West Island and Montréal‑Trudeau International Airport. [12]
As of late 2025:
- 19 stations are in service, primarily on the branch between Brossard and downtown and extending north via the Mont‑Royal tunnel. [13]
- Construction continues on the West Island and airport branches, which explains recurring roadwork near future stations such as Fairview–Pointe‑Claire. [14]
The lane reductions on Fairview Avenue are one visible sign of that sustained construction effort, which includes building elevated structures, station platforms, a bus terminal, and work along the existing railway right‑of‑way. [15]
How media are covering the Fairview Avenue disruption
Although this is a local roadwork notice, the story has been picked up by news outlets that track infrastructure, defence and general breaking news.
- SSBCrack News, a defence and technology news site, published a brief update on December 5, summarizing the Pointe‑Claire announcement and highlighting that both directions on Fairview Avenue are reduced to one lane near the westbound A‑40 service road. The article notes the proximity to CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire and stresses that the work coincides with a busy holiday shopping period, urging motorists to reduce speed and remain cautious. [16]
- El‑Balad.com, a general news outlet covering North America and beyond, also ran a piece titled “Fairview Avenue Lane Reductions Underway for REM Work” on December 5. The report reiterates the December 3–5 timeframe, the affected section between the A‑40 service road and the mall parking entrance, and reminds drivers that both directions are restricted to a single lane. [17]
Both outlets rely on the City of Pointe‑Claire’s official notices but reframe the information for wider audiences, underscoring how even localized traffic changes can have broader significance when they’re connected to major infrastructure like the REM.
Impact on drivers, shoppers and local businesses
For many West Island residents, Fairview Avenue is more than just a local street:
- It acts as a key artery between Highway 40 and CF Fairview Pointe‑Claire, one of the area’s largest shopping centres.
- It connects to surrounding commercial properties, including the Rona hardware store and other big‑box destinations. [18]
With lane reductions in effect:
- Congestion is likely, particularly at peak shopping hours and around typical rush‑hour periods.
- Left turns, lane changes and parking‑lot exits may take longer due to the reduced capacity and the need to yield to oncoming traffic in a single remaining lane per direction.
- Pedestrians and cyclists must be especially cautious, as drivers may focus on merging and navigating cones rather than watching for crosswalks.
While access to businesses remains open, some customers may choose alternate shopping times or routes to avoid delays. Over the longer term, however, improved transit access via the REM is expected to support both commercial activity and regional mobility. [19]
Safety guidance and official contacts
Both the City of Pointe‑Claire and REM officials are repeating a consistent safety message around the Fairview Avenue works:
- Slow down when approaching and passing through the construction zone.
- Follow all posted signs, cones and flagger instructions.
- Be ready for sudden stops or lane shifts as other drivers adjust to the narrowed roadway.
- Give extra space to workers, trucks and equipment, especially when they are entering or leaving the work area. [20]
For more information or to stay updated on REM‑related work:
- REM information line: 1‑833‑REM‑INFO (736‑4636) [21]
- REM email: info@rem.info [22]
- REM website: rem.info, which offers station pages, construction updates and service alerts. [23]
- City of Pointe‑Claire notices and alerts page, where traffic and roadwork advisories—including the Fairview Avenue lane reductions—are published and archived. [24]
What happens after December 5?
The current lane reductions are officially scheduled to end on December 5, 2025, aligning with the three‑day window set out in both the municipal notice and media coverage. [25]
However:
- REM construction around the future Fairview–Pointe‑Claire station is ongoing. [26]
- The broader REM project is still being built out across the Greater Montréal region, with the West Island and airport branches yet to open. [27]
Residents and commuters should therefore be prepared for additional notices, intermittent lane changes or short‑term closures in the months ahead, even if Fairview Avenue returns to normal traffic flow after this particular phase of work. Checking the City’s notices page and REM’s official updates remains the best way to stay informed before heading out. [28]
References
1. www.pointe-claire.ca, 2. www.pointe-claire.ca, 3. www.pointe-claire.ca, 4. www.pointe-claire.ca, 5. www.pointe-claire.ca, 6. www.pointe-claire.ca, 7. www.pointe-claire.ca, 8. www.pointe-claire.ca, 9. www.pointe-claire.ca, 10. www.pointe-claire.ca, 11. rem.info, 12. rem.info, 13. en.wikipedia.org, 14. rem.info, 15. rem.info, 16. news.ssbcrack.com, 17. www.el-balad.com, 18. www.pointe-claire.ca, 19. cib-bic.ca, 20. www.pointe-claire.ca, 21. www.pointe-claire.ca, 22. www.pointe-claire.ca, 23. rem.info, 24. www.pointe-claire.ca, 25. www.pointe-claire.ca, 26. rem.info, 27. en.wikipedia.org, 28. www.pointe-claire.ca
