The Port of Montreal expansion project in Contrecoeur, in the Montérégie region, has officially set sail on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Construction is now taking shape on the water for the building of a new wharf.
Since the beginning of August, the project to develop a container terminal has taken a new step forward following preparatory work on the site, which until fairly recently was agricultural land.
To mark the start of the work in the water, the Montreal Port Authority (MPA) invited The Canadian Press and a second media outlet to a technical briefing and a site visit on Thursday.
“This is a project that is moving forward,” said Julien Baudry, Vice-President of Communications and External Relations for the APM, in an interview, recalling the other steps completed during the last year.
The Port of Montreal has signed a joint development agreement with operator DP World and has obtained a $1.16 billion loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Last April, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney launched this project of “national interest”.
The task now is to construct a temporary stone jetty in the river. This will initially serve as a platform for machinery movement and the construction of the wharf. It will then become the permanent surface of the future container yard.
An APM official explained that the jetty will be made of rocks of varying sizes to create a strong structure. A total of 250,000 tons of stone have been delivered so far, and thousands more are expected in the coming months, APM stated.
Other materials, including piles, will eventually be incorporated into the quay’s construction. According to the current schedule, construction is expected to continue until June 2029.
The vice-president of the expansion project at the APM, Ronald Haddad, indicated that the dredging phase of the riverbed in order to “join the existing channel” should take place from October 2027.
Environmental measures
APM has assured that it is implementing various measures to monitor air and water quality as well as noise levels throughout the construction site.
Monitoring stations have been deployed, notably to ensure compliance with noise and air quality thresholds established by the Quebec Ministry of the Environment. “Turbidity curtains” have also been installed in the river to “reduce the release of suspended matter,” a Port of Montreal official indicated during the technical briefing.
The APM mentioned that it had completed most of the compensation plans to offset the impacts of the project on certain species, such as the loss of habitat of the copper redhorse, and wetlands.
“In total, in terms of compensation measures, we are talking about approximately $36 million in investments, of which $17 million is solely for the copper redhorse,” said Baudry, adding that the planting of seagrass beds for this endangered species is continuing.
In recent years, groups have denounced the environmental impacts of the Port of Montreal expansion project, particularly in connection with dredging work.
Haddad argued that the project benefited from “several years of planning” and “a rigorous environmental process”.
Land works and financing
In parallel with the water project, the APM is still working on preparing work for the land-based installations.
“Currently, we are in planning and negotiation with DP World to complete this phase, which is scheduled to begin in 2027,” said Haddad.
DP World is to manage the development of the container yard and rail connection, as well as the construction of buildings and public services for the future terminal. The company is also responsible for its operation and maintenance for a period of 40 years.
Baudry mentioned that discussions with DP World focus on technological and engineering choices. They also include a financial aspect intended to help complete the financing package for the expansion project.
Of the approximately $2.3 billion project, “around 25 to 30 per cent” of the investment remains to be confirmed, Baudry indicated.
“In terms of financing, we are making good progress. We are still working out the details of confirming the agreement with the operator.”
“But I insist, it’s not a lack of funding. Because for us, we now have confirmation of the loan with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which allows us to move forward,” he said.
APM believes it can finalize the agreement with DP World by early 2027 at the latest.
The future terminal is expected to increase the Port of Montreal’s capacity by 60 per cent. It will be able to handle 1.15 million containers per year. Operations could begin in 2030.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
