Port of LA Plans $3 Billion for Expansion

The Port of Los Angeles in the coming decade will spend more than $3 billion to deepen its access channel, expand marine terminals, add on-dock rail capacity and improve traffic flow through street and bridge improvements in the harbor area.

The capital improvement program is needed to accommodate a projected significant increase in cargo volume, better handle the container ships of 8,000 to 10,000 20-foot equivalent units capacity that are becoming increasingly numerous in the harbor and reduce pollution from port operations, said Michael Christensen, deputy executive director of development.

Christensen told the Propeller Club of Los Angeles-Long Beach Wednesday that projects to expand existing container terminals will add about 200 acres. Also, the port has a long-term project at Pier 500 that could result in a new 200-acre terminal.

By The Numbers:

Containerized Ocean Trade - Southern California Ports

Expansion projects at existing facilities are in various stages of development. The port last week celebrated a second phase expansion project of the China Shipping terminal that added a second vessel berth. Further expansion will result in another wharf extension and backland expansion to nearly double the size of the facility to 142 acres.

Los Angeles is close to completing a wharf extension at the TraPac terminal to allow for berthing of two vessels simultaneously. Additional expansion will add an on-dock rail yard and a larger gate complex.

The port will increase the APL Ltd. terminal by 40 acres, a project that should move rather quickly, Christensen said. The port also plans to reconfigure wharf and backland areas at the Yang Ming and Yusen terminals and to replace the wharf and deepen the berthing area at the Evergreen terminal.

Pier 500 is a long-term project that still requires environmental clearances and design work. The site is now being used as a dredge disposal site. Obtaining the permits and constructing the approximately 200-acre container terminal could take as long as 10 years.

The port is well along on a project to deepen its main access channel to 53 feet, a $222 million project that should be completed in 2012.