Ontario Construction News staff writer
QUÉBEC CITY — The Port of Québec has released a 10-year, $1.7-billion infrastructure plan that would rebuild its century-old wharves and modernize facilities across the harbour, work the port authority says is necessary to maintain supply-chain reliability and adapt to climate pressures.
“This is a historic port infrastructure plan for the Capitale-Nationale region. By investing $1.7 billion to update our wharves with modern infrastructures, we are cementing the Port’s strategic role in the national supply chain and working to make Québec City the heart of sustainable logistics on the St. Lawrence,” Port of Québec president and CEO Olga Farman said in a statement.
The work will unfold in two phases over a decade, with each project assessed individually to reduce impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods and avoid major disruptions to port operations. Procurement for the first phase is scheduled to begin in January 2026, and reconstruction could start as early as the summer of 2027.
The port authority estimates the plan will generate up to $1.6 billion in GDP over 10 years, about $800 million in tax revenue and the equivalent of 5,000 to 7,000 jobs. Officials say the upgrades will also strengthen intermodal connections, improve worker safety and encourage additional private investment.
Climate-resilience measures are a major component of the redesign. Plans include raising wharf elevations to prepare for rising water levels and storm surges, installing expanded surface-water management systems and completing preparatory work to support future shore-power connections for merchant ships once international standards are finalized.
The port also plans to install real-time monitoring sensors on rebuilt structures, feeding data into a virtual replica to guide long-term maintenance.
One of the first major undertakings — rebuilding wharves 104, 105 and 106 in the Anse-au-Foulon sector — will seek Envision certification, an environmental standard for sustainable infrastructure. The port says all projects will be subject to its internal impact assessment and mitigation process, with details posted publicly on its Je Participe platform.
“This plan is about much more than construction; it’s a driver of prosperity for the entire region. Every dollar invested, every job created, and every wharf updated strengthens not only our ability to deliver, but our ability to connect and showcase Québec,” Farman said.