If you’ve been to Montréal, you’ve probably noticed there’s *always* construction. The orange cones have become part of the city’s personality. But beyond the jokes, building and rebuilding have always been essential to Montréal’s growth.
From the metro to the Olympic Stadium, major projects have shaped how we live, move, and connect. These aren’t just structures—they’re chapters in the city’s story, reflecting its ambition and resilience.
Yes, the detours can be annoying. But each project is a step toward a better, more vibrant city. Construction isn’t just noise and traffic—it’s progress in motion.
1916 – View of the excavation work on the north side of the Church Bridge.1919 – Excavation method under the south span of the Lasalle Bridge.1922 – View of a narrow trench in and around which workers are working.1928 – View of the excavation for the new conduit chamber at the southeast corner of Sainte-Catherine and Champlain streets.1929 – Photograph of the excavation carried out north of Carleton Road (Doctor Penfield Avenue), along the McTavish Reservoir, in preparation for the construction of the new McTavish pumping station.1929 – Photograph of workers beginning excavation north of Carleton Road (Doctor-Penfield Avenue) using a mechanical shovel.1929 – Workers at work can be seen, including two excavators, a truck, and a horse-drawn cart. Some McGill University buildings are visible in the background.1930 – Photograph showing a group of workers digging an excavation along the sidewalk of a residential street.1930 – Photograph showing work carried out at the southeast corner of the intersection of Côte de la Place-d’Armes and Rue Saint-Jacques.1931 – Photo showing a general view of the excavation work for the Wellington Tunnel, carried out by the Dufresne company.1931 – Photo showing work carried out on Dubé Avenue.1931 – Photo showing workers excavating a trench with a pick and shovel in the area of Dubé Avenue.1931 – Photograph showing numerous workers busy digging a trench along Avenue du Parc, intended for the upcoming burial of electric wires.1932 – Photo showing the excavation work carried out for the construction of the Atwater filtration plant expansion.1932 – Photo showing work to solidify a trench dug for the aqueduct and sewers. The view is taken looking west from Rue de la Roche.1932 – Photograph of an excavation carried out on Saint-Claude Street in Old Montréal. A building with the inscription Poultry, Game, Eggs can be seen in the background.1932 – Photograph of excavation work carried out on Saint-Claude Street in Old Montréal.1933 – Photo of excavation work for the passage of a 6-inch water pipe on the west side of Avenue de Chateaubriand.1933- Photo of excavation work for a 36-inch water main. A Coca-Cola advertisement can be seen on the wall of an apartment block.1933 – Photo of excavation work on Prieur Street for the installation of a 36-inch pipe.
Find more photos from the Montréal archives on their website.
Dalia, a photojournalist hailing from Montreal, is deeply passionate about documenting events and sharing stories about people's lives. She is on track to graduate from Concordia University with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history. Currently, Dalia holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at her school's newspaper, The Concordian. Following graduation, she aims to secure a full-time reporting job at a major news outlet.
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