Pierrefonds Plagued: Residents Rage as Major Watermain Break Goes Unaddressed Before Long Weekend

Pierrefonds residents are boiling over with frustration after a significant watermain break on Wednesday left their community in disarray, with no repair crews in sight even as the long weekend loomed. The rupture, which occurred on Antoine-Faucon Street near René-Émard Street, has turned a quiet neighbourhood into a scene of chaos, with water gushing onto the road and forming icy patches, posing a serious hazard.

For days, locals have been grappling with the aftermath.

"It started on Wednesday, and still nothing has been done," lamented resident Brian O'Neill, whose patience, like that of his neighbours, has worn thin. The visible damage includes a collapsed section of the street, a stark testament to the severity of the incident. This collapse has forced local traffic onto a single lane, causing considerable inconvenience and raising safety concerns.

The lack of a timely response from city officials has been the primary source of anger.

Residents point out the particularly dangerous situation for pedestrians, as the water, especially at night, freezes over, creating treacherous icy pathways. "It's quite dangerous, especially for children on bikes or pedestrians at night," O'Neill emphasized, highlighting the immediate risks to public safety.

Adding to the community's distress, the disruption has forced the closure of a local park, further limiting recreational options and impacting daily life.

The lingering question on everyone's mind is why, despite the clear and present danger, the city has not deployed crews to address the break before the holiday weekend.

CTV News reached out to the City of Montreal for an explanation regarding the delayed response, but as of Thursday night, no comment had been received.

This silence only deepens the residents' sense of abandonment and neglect. As the long weekend begins, Pierrefonds locals are left to wonder when their community will return to normal, and when their pleas for action will finally be heard.