Montreal port remains driven to develop container terminal

The Port of Montreal continues to pursue plans to develop a container terminal on its property at the Contrecoeur facility. The port now is in its fourth year of planning and development.

The project calls for constructing a terminal designed to handle 1.15 million 20-foot equivalent units annually. The terminal would feature two berths and a container-handling area, an intermodal yard connected to the port's main rail network (which connects with CN and Canadian Pacific lines), a truck entry portal linked to the local highway network and support facilities.

Construction could start in 2018 pending the acquisition of necessary approvals, and the terminal could begin operating in 2021, according to the port.

In spring, Montreal Port Authority (MPA) officials initiated a dialogue with relevant stakeholders, including business partners, public authorities, local communities and interest groups. The authority held an informational meeting Dec. 1 for local residents concerned about the project.

The ongoing information and pre-consultation process precedes steps that will be taken by regulators responsible for issuing project approvals, and is an essential component to the project's success, according to MPA officials.

Between 1988 and 1992, the authority acquired the existing terminal at Contrecoeur and surrounding land. The site is ideal for a container terminal because of the proximity to rail and roads, space for industrial and logistics development, and the industrial neighborhood setting, according to the MPA.