Construction/renovation without excavation: Mackay between René-Lévesque and Sainte-Catherine

A stretch of Mackay Street between René-Lévesque and Sainte-Catherine will undergo construction without excavation starting February 28, 2026, and running through mid-July, according to the City of Montreal's permit database. Magil Construction est du Canada Inc. has been issued the permit for what appears to be surface-level renovation work on this downtown corridor. The project timeline spans nearly five months, from late February through July 17, suggesting a comprehensive overhaul of the street surface, potentially including repaving, line painting, or infrastructure updates that won't require digging up the roadway. For West Island residents, this matters more than you might think. Mackay Street serves as a key north-south connector for anyone heading downtown from Pointe-Claire, Beaconsfield, or points west along the 20. It's particularly crucial for commuters who prefer surface streets over the Ville-Marie tunnel, and it's a main artery for accessing the Bell Centre, Place des Arts, and the shopping district around Sainte-Catherine. The "no excavation" designation is actually good news — it typically means fewer lane closures, less disruption to traffic flow, and shorter daily work windows compared to major underground utility work. However, five months is still five months, and anyone who regularly uses this route for work or weekend downtown trips should start scouting alternate routes now. The timing could be strategic, starting just as winter loosens its grip and wrapping up before the peak summer festival season hits full swing. Construction crews will be working during standard hours, with the permit specifically noting 7 PM start and end times, though the actual daily schedule will likely be more conventional. This project joins the ever-growing list of Montreal's infrastructure improvements, part of the city's ongoing efforts to maintain its aging road network. While downtown construction is nothing new, the extended timeline suggests this isn't just a quick patch job. For West Islanders planning their 2026 downtown adventures, consider this your early warning system. Start familiarizing yourself with alternate routes like Peel or Mountain streets, or embrace the STM for a few months. After all, five months of construction beats five years of potholes — though in Montreal, we're never quite sure which one we're getting.