Montreal port expansion construction progresses as part of federal ‘nation-building’ projects
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- Montreal Port Authority has begun constructing a stone jetty in the St. Lawrence River at Contrecoeur, with 250,000 tonnes of stone delivered so far and thousands more tonnes expected over coming months.
- The Port of Montreal secured a $1.16-billion loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank in April and signed a joint development agreement with Dubai-based DP World last September.
- The Contrecoeur terminal is expected to boost Canada's second-largest port's capacity by 60 per cent, handling up to 1.15 million containers annually, with operations slated to begin in 2030.
- DP World will manage the container yard, rail connection, buildings and utilities, and handle operation and maintenance of the terminal for 40 years.
- The port authority is investing $36 million in environmental offset measures, including protection for the copper redhorse fish and wetland habitat, with silt curtains installed in the river to contain suspended matter from dredging.
- Between 25 and 30 per cent of the $2.3-billion project budget remains unconfirmed, though the authority expects to finalize its deal with DP World by early 2027.
- Dredging of the riverbed is scheduled to begin in October 2027, with wharf construction set for completion in June 2029.
Why it matters: The Contrecoeur terminal is the first of the federal government's fast-tracked 'nation-building' projects to break ground, and with operations targeted for 2030 and a 60 per cent capacity boost (1.15 million containers), it materially reshapes Canada's second-largest port — though 25-30 per cent of the $2.3-billion budget is still unconfirmed pending a final deal with DP World by early 2027.
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