The Montreal Port Authority (MPA) and Logistec Corporation announced that Viau Terminal, which handles about 350,000 containers annually, will undergo a new construction phase to increase its handling capacity. This would be its second phase, after the first one was completed in 2016. The new phase will make it possible to add 250,000 TEUs to Viau Terminal’s current capacity, bringing it to 600,000 TEUs.
The project will make the Port of Montreal able to welcome the expected growth in the container sector and reach its maximum capacity on the Island of Montreal, 2.1 million TEUs.
The works for the project will start on September 2019 and will last until December 2020, and it will include the following:
- Installing piles;
- Railway works;
- Dynamic soil compaction;
- Underground infrastructure works;
- Laying foundation;
- Paving.
When fully operational, Viau Terminal will be generating 2,500 direct and indirect jobs, along with $340 million in economic benefits. The terminal will also be using new technologies, such as electrifying some parts and utilizing broadband reversing alarms on equipment to limit the noise impacts of handling activities.
As Logistec informed, Termont Montreal Inc. will be investing $30 million in the final phase of this project that. Speaking about the project, Sokat Shaikh, President and CEO of MSC Canada. noted:
The increase in terminal capacity is coming at the right time for us. We applaud this announcement as it ensures the future growth of our services in Montreal. MSC has grown significantly by more than 10% a year for the past five years. This additional capacity at Viau Terminal will support such growth over the next two years. Then we will have to move on to the next step
Now, the next key milestone in the MPA’s development plan is the container terminal project at Contrecoeur. There, certain major steps are currently being implemented or finalized, such as:
- Environmental process;
- Financial structure;
- Engineering and design;
- Negotiations for terminal operation.
The commissioning of the project is planned for 2023–2024.
