Montreal project will improve cargo flow, officials say

The government of Canada will invest $18.5 million to improve transport efficiency at the Port of Montreal, helping to move goods to market faster, the country's transport minister said August 12.

The project will increase transport efficiency, capacity, and security by reducing waiting times and bottlenecks for container movements at the port, officials said. Investments include:

• An information technology system for truck logistics that allows drivers to register for access to the port's terminals, increasing the flow of traffic;
• Building a railway bridge outside the truck entrance to improve truck traffic at the port;
• Deploying a series of electronic signs on the port lands that will provide real-time information for truck drivers;
• Developing an intelligent communications network to reduce truck traffic in the vicinity of the port.

The project is estimated to create 370 jobs during construction, officials also said.

Transport Minister Marc Garneau also announced $600,000 in funding for the University of Montreal to assess the impacts of climate change on the port's infrastructure and to determine its resilience to the effects of climate change. The funding is part of Canada's $16 million Transportation Assets Risk Assessment initiative to better understand climate risks to federally owned transportation assets and potential adaptation solutions, officials said.