Update on project works

• Monitoring activities for suspended matter in the aquatic environment
• Bathymetric surveys

These activities are being carried out in the river, off the Contrecœur sector. These temporary interventions are not expected to cause any disturbances to the surrounding area.

• Earthworks and seeding
• Phragmites management
• Upcoming (summer–fall 2026): planting
• These activities are taking place within Port property (south of Route 132) and should therefore not cause any disturbance to nearby residents.

• Construction of a breakwater dike
• Substrate installation
• Upcoming (summer 2026): planting of aquatic vegetation
• These activities are taking place far from residential areas and should therefore not cause any disturbance.

• Installation of the free-span bridge crossing Creek 2
• Start of construction of the dredged sediment storage basin
• Restoration of the former Noir ditch channel
• Progressive closure of the temporary access road (this access may be used by emergency services if required)
• Delivery of granular materials
• Ongoing construction of access roads to the river

Targeted tree cutting will take place in the coming days. This work will occur between March 9 and 13, 2026, and concerns a clearly defined quadrilateral area located within the Port of Montreal’s property.

Earthworks within the project site

• Construction of the road and platform leading to trucking access route for construction activities, which will become the main access point for all deliveries to the site. This access point will be put into service after the clear-span bridge is installed over Stream 2. Temporary access point will then be closed.
• Preparatory earthworks and construction of the dikes in zone 2 will start.
• Land excavation to relocate Fossé Noir ditch will start.
• The current bed of Fossé Noir ditch is not affected by these earthworks.

Other activities

• Installation of a shaker grid (wheel cleaning system using vibration) at the truck exit to maximally clean the wheels of trucks leaving the site

The first phase of wetland compensation works, planned to create 37.3 hectares of wetlands, was temporarily halted on January 28 due to winter conditions. Work is set to resume this spring when the fields are accessible.

Completed project works include fencing, pond excavation, common reed (phragmite) management, culvert installation over ditches, and a vegetated berm along Route 132.

Upcoming:

• Spring 2026: earthworks (sills, berms, removal and blocking of drains) and seeding
• Summer and fall 2026: vegetation planting

Project works on the Contrecœur expansion site will stop during the holiday season from Saturday, December 20, 2025, to Sunday, January 4, 2026, inclusive.

During this time, no worksite activity will take place except maintenance (such as snow removal). The site will be secured at all times, and security guards will be present throughout the holiday break. Sitework will resume as usual on Monday, January 5, 2026.

The works are taking place within Port of Montreal property, south of Route 132. They aim, over time, to create 37.3 hectares of wetlands.

By the end of December 2025, boundary fencing will be installed. One truck will deliver limited equipment (an excavator and fencing). No additional truck traffic is planned.

In early 2026, subject to weather conditions, the planned works include:

• installation of culverts over agricultural ditches
• excavation of a pond
• construction of a vegetated berm along Route 132

These works aim to offset the loss of aquatic vegetation at the site of the future wharf. The project is taking place near Île-aux-Bœufs, across from Verchères, and includes:

• Construction of a breakwater and a deflector dike (underwater infrastructure): underway through the end of 2025.
• Placement of a substrate suitable for planting new aquatic vegetation: spring 2026.
• Planting of vallisneria (more than 50,000 plants) around the island over 62,000 square metres (6.2 hectares): summers 2026 and 2027.

The Port of Montréal Authority (MPA) will monitor the progress of these aquatic beds over the next 20 years. Several telemetry devices will also be installed to study and track their evolution, including measurement buoys.

Earthworks will be carried out on the weekends of November 29, December 6, and December 13, 2025. The work includes topsoil stripping and relocation of stockpiled topsoil within the Contrecoeur expansion project site.

Scheduled hours: Saturdays and Sundays, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Impacts and mitigation measures

• No material deliveries are planned during these activities.

• No truck traffic outside the project site will be required while the work is underway.

During the weekend of November 22 and 23, 2025, piles of topsoil will be relocated to a storage area on the Contrecœur expansion project site.

The planned work schedule is as follows:

• Friday, November 21, 2025: between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Saturday, November 22: between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

• Sunday, November 23: between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Short, intermittent traffic disruptions are expected on Route 132, with the presence of flaggers to ensure the safety of both road users and workers. 

Traffic will be reduced near the temporary access used by the contractor.

The MPA confirms that site preparation work for its Port of Montreal expansion project in Contrecœur is underway in anticipation of more significant activities to take place thereafter in 2026. The planned site prep activities will begin gradually between now and October 27 and include: 

• Installing fencing around the worksite
• Building access roads
• Building work platforms
• Targeted tree cutting
• Installing worksite offices and a garage