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

An MSC cargo ship passes Contrecoeur Port of Montreal terminal expansion site following an event by Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing the start of construction at the site in Contrecoeur, Que., Thursday, April 9, 2026. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

MONTREAL — The $2.3-billion Port of Montreal expansion project has officially set sail along the banks of the St. Lawrence River, with construction now underway for a new wharf.

Following preparatory work on the site in Contrecoeur, just downriver from Montreal, workers have begun to construct a stone jetty in the river.

The structure will serve as a platform to move machinery and build the wharf before being converted into the surface of a shipping container yard. Some 250,000 tonnes of stone have been delivered so far, with thousands more expected in the coming months, according to the Montreal Port Authority, which invited The Canadian Press and another news outlet to an on-site visit this week.

“This is a project that is moving forward,” said Julien Baudry, a spokesperson for the organization, highlighting other milestones from the past year.

The Port of Montreal secured a $1.16-billion loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank in April and signed a joint development agreement with terminal operator DP World last September.

The new site is the first so-called nation-building project fast-tracked for approval by the federal government to get off the ground.

The future terminal is expected to boost capacity at the country’s second-largest port by 60 per cent, handling up to 1.15 million containers per year. Operations are slated to start in 2030.

Dredging of the riverbed will kick off in October 2027, and construction of the wharf is scheduled for completion in June 2029, said Ronald Haddad, who heads the project at the port authority.

The organization has announced a raft of measures to monitor air and water quality as well as noise levels throughout construction.

Monitoring stations have been set up to ensure compliance with provincial noise and air quality thresholds. The authority has also installed silt curtains in the river to contain “suspended matter” — undissolved particles of silt, clay or organic debris that can be churned up by dredging or shoreline construction.

Baudry said the port authority is also investing in $36 million worth of measures to offset the project’s effect on certain species, including loss of wetlands and habitat for the copper redhorse fish.

Environmental groups have criticized the toll of the port expansion will have on the environment, particularly the ripple effects of dredging.

DP World will manage development of the container yard and rail connection, as well as construction of buildings and utilities for the planned terminal. A global logistics powerhouse, the Dubai-based company will also be responsible for its operation and maintenance for 40 years.

Financing for the project has yet to be finalized. Of the roughly $2.3-billion budget, between a quarter and 30 per cent has yet to be confirmed, Baudry said.

“We are making good progress with the financing. We are just finalizing the details of the agreement with the operator,” he said, referring to DP World.

“But I want to emphasize, this is not a lack of funding,” he added.

The Montreal Port Authority expects to sign off on a final deal with DP World by early 2027.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2026.