Major $2.8M Paving Project Set to Begin on Highway 55 South Next Week

SHERBROOKE, May 27, 2026 -If your daily commute takes you along Highway 55 South between Windsor and Sherbrooke, you’ll want to give yourself some extra time starting next week.

The Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable has announced a major $2.8 million asphalt repaving project set to kick off on Monday, June 1, 2026. The construction will span a five-week period, aiming to repair significant rutting along the lanes, replace the worn asphalt layer, and rehabilitate the pavement on 2e Rang between Route 249 and the highway ramps.

While the project promises to drastically improve safety and driving comfort for the 10,300 motorists who use this stretch daily, it does come with a series of major traffic disruptions.

What to Expect: Major Traffic & Ramp Closures

To facilitate the work, crews will be operating during both daytime and evening hours.

Key traffic disruptions include:

Two-Way Traffic Configuration: A temporary bypass road will be set up to redirect all southbound traffic onto the northbound side of Highway 55. This head-to-head configuration will stretch for nearly 11 kilometers, leaving only one open lane in each direction.

Complete Ramp Closure: The Entrance Ramp No. 71 from Route 249 heading toward Sherbrooke (at Saint-François-Xavier-de-Brompton) will be completely closed for the entire five-week duration of the project. Motorists will be detoured via Route 249 and Route 143 down to Rue Laval.

Sporadic Exit Closures: Exit No. 71 from Highway 55 South toward Route 249 will face sporadic, short-term closures as operations dictate. Temporary detour signage will be installed on-site to guide drivers.

🛑 The Good News: All lanes will be fully reopened before every weekend and during statutory holidays to accommodate heavy weekend travel.

Plan Ahead and Stay Updated

Significant delays and slowdowns are anticipated through the construction zone. Ministry officials strongly advise local drivers to map out alternative routes or factor in extra travel time to reach their destinations safely.

As always with seasonal roadwork, the schedule remains highly dependent on favorable weather conditions and potential operational constraints, meaning work could be postponed or extended if heavy rain hits the area.

Before hitting the road, check real-time traffic updates and activate mobile alerts by using the Québec 511 app. Drive safe, watch out for the road crews, and thank you for your patience!