6 American Journal of Transportation American Journal of Transportation ajot.com Largest port expansion on Canada’s East Coast reaches another milestone By Leo Ryan, AJOT (MILESTONE – continued on page 24) In the presence of Prime Minister Mark Carney, the biggest port project in Mon- treal’s modern history has moved a critical step for- ward after several decades of planning and extensive delays. Federal loan financ- ing of C$1.16 billion through the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) was announced on April 9 in support of a $2.3 billion container termi- nal at Contrecoeur, 25 miles northeast of Montreal on the St. Lawrence River. To be operated by DP World, with construction comple- tion now targeted for 2030, it will handle up to 1.15 million containers annually – boost- ing existing capacity by 60%. Montreal port executives see the terminal connect- ing with CN’s North Amer- ican rail network playing a transformative role in nota- bly meeting future demand from Europe and the Med- iterranean as the federal government seeks to double non-US exports within a decade, lessen heavy trade reliance on the United States and strengthen economic sovereignty in response to the tariff war ignited by the Trump Administration. They are also determined to recover formerly substantial Midwest business that has been lost to deepened-draft US ports on the East Coast in the past few years. Montreal, thus, has been the first Canadian port to benefit from a select group of “nation-building projects” identified last year by the Carney government. According to Carney, the Contrecœur project “is about more than the expansion of a port – it is a signal that Canada is building again. With each shovel in the ground, we are building a stronger, more independent, more resilient Canadian economy. In less than seven months, this proj- ect went from a proposal to a construction site. That is the speed and ambition we need to build Canada strong.” In a broader sense, he has affirmed: “War in the Middle East, Russia’s inva- sion of Ukraine and the new trade regimes are reshaping the global economy in real time. Some of these effects are immediate and profound: clos- ing markets, disrupting supply chains, halting investments.” The project represents a partnership across govern- ments, the port authority and the private sector. The Gov- ernment of Quebec is contrib- uting $130 million, Transport Canada $150 million, and the full financing is to be repaid through autonomous reve- nues and the contribution of the private sector. DP World’s eventual financial contribu- tion is still under negotiation. Construction of critical in-water works including dredging, quay wall construc- tion and other infrastructure required for vessel access and operations began in October 2025 and is being delivered by a joint venture between Aecon and Pomerleau. In 2027, work is expected to begin on building out termi- nal and logistics infrastructure, Artist rendering of planned Contrecoeur container terminal scheduled to begin operations in 2030. 518-756-2164 [email protected] www.carvercompanies.com Stevedoring Shipyard Vessel Repair Maritime and Logistics Equipment Rentals Construction • Maritime • Materials The Pioneer of Integrative Solutions on Land and Sea [email protected] • www.carvercompanies.com Tug and Barge Services Property and Port Management General and Marine Construction
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