North of Henri Bourassa Boulevard, it becomes a true autoroute before crossing the Rivière des Prairies on the Papineau-Leblanc Bridge.

[2][3] It traverses the boroughs of Ville-Marie, Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont–La Petite-Patrie, Villeray-St-Michel-Parc-Extension and Ahuntsic-Cartierville.

The street is named after Joseph Papineau, Lower Canadian politician and father of Louis-Joseph Papineau, the leader of the reformist Patriote movement and belligerent in the Lower Canada Rebellion of 1837.

[4] The Fabre metro station also has an entrance to Papineau, on the adjacent Jean-Talon Street.

[5] The street is also served by three STM bus routes.