Construction on Montreal port expansion underway as 'nation-building' effort ramps up

Construction for the $2.3-billion Port of Montreal expansion project is underway along the St. Lawrence River, starting with a new wharf site in Contrecoeur, just downriver from Montreal. After preparatory work, crews began building a stone jetty that will first support moving machinery and constructing the wharf, before the area is converted into a surface container yard. The Montreal Port Authority said 250,000 tonnes of stone have already been delivered and that the expansion is expected to raise container capacity at Canada’s second-largest port by 60% to as much as 1.15 million TEUs per year. Operations are slated for 2030, with dredging starting in October 2027 and wharf completion planned for June 2029. The project uses monitoring stations for air and water quality and noise, plus silt curtains to contain suspended material, and includes $36 million in measures to offset impacts on species such as the copper redhorse fish. DP World will manage development, operations and maintenance for 40 years, though final financing remains pending.