The Quebec government confirmed an additional $75 million for the Contrecœur project in its 2023-2024 budget. This amount was over and above the $55 million it had allocated to the project in 2020. The project subsequently received $150 million from the Government of Canada’s National Trade Corridor Fund (NTCF). This backing came against a backdrop of anticipated growth in the container sector over the next few years, and the need to meet the needs of importers, exporters and consumers. 

In a parallel move, last autumn the MPA agreed to a new two-tiered procurement process to provide more effective control over project risks, works and costs. 

 

- In-water works will be carried out in their entirety by the MPA, which will act as prime contractor for this component of the project, which includes dock construction and dredging. The planning of this work will be the subject of a collaborative design-build (collaborative DB) approach, with a company assisting until early 2025. At the end of this phase, the MPA will award project works as per its procurement processes, and will present an updated schedule for this component of the project.


- Land-based works will be carried out by a private partner that will take charge of terminal construction and operation. This partner will be selected following an international request for proposals slated to be launched in 2024.

 


Until construction of the terminal begins, the MPA will continue to advance its mitigation measures and compensation plans based on the positive declaration of decision it obtained in 2021. These tangible actions include our collaboration with the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) in an intervention program on agricultural practices in the watershed of the Séraphin-Choquette stream, a tributary of the Richelieu River and the main spawning ground for copper redhorse fish. This five-year program, with many actions implemented in 2023, is part of a series of measures to minimize the impact of the Contrecœur project and have a positive impact on the sustainability of this species of fish.

The MPA is also a partner in the smartHarbour initiative now being implemented by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) in collaboration with Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSAC). This research and development initiative brings together the CSA, the MPA, the private sector and the academic community to develop applications using satellite data to monitor changes in diverse environmental variables in the Contrecœur project. As such, the expansion project showcases the use of Earth observation technologies, both in the Canadian marine community and daily life.   

Two years in the making at a total cost of $47.8 million, the Port of Montreal officially opened its new overpass over Notre-Dame Street East in the Viau sector. Built to take about 1,500 trucks a day off the local road network, this new infrastructure is also improving the efficiency and smooth flow of freight traffic. Landscaping that included tree planting and an artistic component developed in collaboration with the Molinari Foundation were also integrated into the project.

The third and final stage of the major rail capacity optimization project, costing $62.4 million and intended to add a further six km of track to the Port of Montreal’s rail network, was completed in 2023. Project works took place between Atateken Street and The Village au Pied-du-Courant park. They included electrical, sewer and water works, pavement work, and laying the new tracks. 

Located on the historic site of former Silo No. 3, the grain containerization company CanEst faced bottlenecks and congestion at its terminals, due to a growth rate of 86% over the past four years. To support the company’s growth and changing demand for containerized grain, the MPA launched a project to redevelop and upgrade the terminal. Valued at $26.2 million, the project will increase the terminal’s handling capacity by 20%, optimize operational space, increase container storage capacity and boost export volumes, and by doing so, reduce health and safety risks for workers, and lower environmental pollution. The first phase of the project, begun in 2023, redeveloped the MPA employee parking lot beside the terminal, at 3400 Notre-Dame Street East. 

With 37 km of water supply networks on Port territory, serving offices and buildings, 268 fire hydrants and ships, the MPA works to maintain pipes in good condition, ensure water quality and guarantee service reliability. In 2023, Racine Terminal’s water supply system benefited from a $3.8 million structural lining rehabilitation project. To achieve this, teams excavated shafts at strategic points on the terminal network and inserted structural liners inside existing pipes. This process extends the lifespan of these pipes by 75 years by reinforcing them, limiting the impact on terminal operations, and avoiding the need to move thousands of tonnes of soil and excavate the terminal’s surface. 

Among the projects completed in 2023, the Port of Montreal Tower marks the culmination of a vast construction project that lasted close to 10 years. Literally the high point of the Alexandra Pier rehabilitation project at a height of 65 metres, this majestic glassed-in tower offers a spectacular observatory over the metropolis and the river, a unique interactive experience, educational modules on the City of Montreal and its port, and a dizzying glass cage.

Located at 3400 Notre-Dame Street East, the building housing the Port of Montreal’s infrastructure management, mechanical workshops and rail operations had problems with infiltration behind the wall cladding. Part of the facade renovation involved tearing out the entire facade so that a new one could be built. To do so, the teams insulated the building, which improved its energy balance, integrated design elements in keeping with the Port’s brand image, and chose sustainable, local materials to enhance the building facing the street.

In the interest of installing more shore power systems for vessels, work was carried out to install a shore power system for the Juno Marie. The installed system (600 V/200 A), similar to the services provided for vessels wintering at the Port of Montreal, brought to 43 the number of electrical connection systems available on our quays. This new service was installed in Section 73 specifically for the Juno Marie, a small oil tanker that supplies fuel oil to any vessel using the Port of Montreal. Since itl remains at the Port of Montreal all year long, the Juno Marie can now stay connected to electricity at all times when not bunkering other vessels.