L.A. Port Renovation Finished, Cost $370 Million
Video by Layne Kaplan
The $370 million dredging project at the Port of Los Angeles was completed Wednesday. The project enables larger cargo ships to access all nine of Port of Los Angeles' shipping container terminals.
"Post-Panamax" mega-ships, which could only fit into only two of the port's terminals before the renovation, are now able to go further into the harbor. These mega-ships are 30 to 40 percent bigger than standard ships. With more mega-ships from Europe and Asia to the L.A. port, the project will keep the port afloat against competition with other major seaports around the globe.
Calling the city's port the "backbone of our country's economy,'' Rep. Janice Hahn said that the project will produce jobs "in my district and across the country.''
The project, which removed 15 million cubic yards of dirt, took the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 10 years to finish. They also made more depth of the port's Main, West Basin and East Basin channels from 45 feet to 53 feet.
The dirt that was removed was transferred to other parts of the port. Some of it will be used to build a 104-acre replacement habitat and feeding area for marine animals.
"A port is defined by the depth of its channels,'' Geraldine Knatz, the port's executive director, said. According to Knatz, the project was the company's "single-most important infrastructure project.''
The port is also in progress of a $1.3 billion modernization effort to upgrade railroad and roadway systems supporting the trade center. According to port officials, 830,000 jobs will be created along $35 billion in tax revenues and wages.
