The first snowfall of the season made life a little more complicated for Montreal commuters today.
The snowfall, a wildcat strike by some STM bus drivers, a lack of salt being spread on downtown streets and sidewalks, and the closure of the access to the eastbound Ville Marie Expressway all combined to make travel a challenge.
In the east end, bus commuters were left standing for more than an hour for busses that never showed up after drivers working out of the STM garage in Anjou protested a new protocol that required them to fill out some Automobile Insurance Board documents before work.
As a result 23 routes were left without service this morning.
The STM says it is currently negotiating with the drivers' union.
In downtown Montreal, commuters on foot and in their cars complained that no salt been spread on the roads and sidewalks.
CJAD 800 contributor and traffic expert Rick Leckner said " ...streets such as Guy, Atwater and Du Musée...usually it's salted and I haven't seen a salt truck. Literally it's like a skating rink."
Motorists coming into town along eastbound Highway 20 had to cope with a new lane configuration because of the closure of the eastbound Ville Marie Expressway, using the new Highway 136 bypass.
An official at Transport Quebec says the transition went smoothly.
Environment Canada meteorologist Dave Phillips tells CJAD that Monday's snowfall comes as reality check for many. The City of Montreal received just over 5 centimetres of snow, areas west, north and east of Montreal got about 15 centimetres.
"We think the first part of winter is going to be what we've seen. A little quieter, less brutal than what people thought it was going to be, but as we get on into winter and La Niña , that cold water in the Pacific takes over, we may see the toughest part of winter is towards the end, let's say end of January, February, maybe early March. " says Phillips.
The snowfall didn't stop work crews from laying sod along Rene Levesque Boulevard East.
Project Montreal tells CTV the contractors should be penalized.
"It seems to be the contractors should have to be fined for this, because obviously it's not going to take under the snow," said councillor Craig Sauvé.
Mayor Denis Coderre also said it was unacceptable.