The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) and Contrecoeur Terminal Constructors General Partnership (CTCGP), formed by firms Pomerleau and Aecon, have signed an agreement for the Contrecœur expansion project.
The agreement is said to assist the MPA in the design of the in-water works through a progressive design-build (progressive DB) approach.
In October 2023, the port authority announced it would be using a hybrid approach for the design and construction of its expansion project.
In this approach, a private partner will carry out land-side works, and the MPA – with partner support – will undertake in-water works (including dock construction and dredging). Accordingly, in the last few days, the MPA reached an agreement with CTCGP on developing the design aspect of the project.
Under the collaborative DB approach, the contractor (CTCGP) and the master builder (the MPA) will work closely together throughout the project’s development phase to finalise the design and arrive at an estimated schedule and cost for the project works.
This approach reportedly offers advantages in terms of efficiency and coordination, while providing greater predictability and risk management for all parties, particularly in terms of costs and deadlines. CTCGP was chosen for the expertise and experience of its partners in infrastructure and transportation, as well as in collaborative DB-type approaches.
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Project design with CTCGP, along with an assessment of cost and schedule, will take place over the next 12 months. At the end of this phase, the MPA aims to award the dock construction and dredging project works based on its procurement processes and will present an updated implementation schedule.
Planning for the land-based works is also taking place currently. By the summer of 2024, the MPA will launch an international request for proposals to select a private partner to build the land-side component of the terminal (container yard, buildings, public utilities, and rail connection). This private partner will also operate and maintain the terminal under a DBFOM (design, build, finance, operate and maintain) approach.
A schedule for land-based works is also expected to be released once the outcome of the request for proposals is known within the next 12 months or so. At the same time, the MPA is working on the compensation plans, follow-up programmes and mitigation measures required to meet the conditions of the favourable decision statement received for the project.
Given anticipated growth in the container sector, the Port of Montreal is reaching this new milestone in its expansion project where it will build a new container terminal in the municipality of Contrecœur.
Connected to major rail lines and highways, this new terminal will eventually represent an additional annual capacity equal to 60 per cent of the containers currently handled in Montreal, to meet the needs of importers, exporters and consumers in Quebec and Eastern Canada.
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“We are very pleased to announce this partnership with Pomerleau and Aecon through CTCGP for planning the in-water works for our Contrecœur expansion project,” said Julie Gascon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the MPA.
“The close working relationship between these two renowned companies, combined with our innovative progressive design-build approach, strengthens our commitment to the efficiency, coordination and success of this future-oriented project.
“We look forward to delivering on this ambitious vision for the future of Canada’s supply chains, and better serving our businesses and our community.”
Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport and Quebec Lieutenant, further stated: “The Port of Montreal plays a key role in ensuring Canadians have access to the goods they need, when they need them, at affordable prices.
“Our investment in this project is going to strengthen our supply chain and I’m pleased with this important milestone.”
