The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received $8 million through last year’s federal bipartisan infrastructure law to use on navigational efficiency improvements at the Port of Long Beach, the port announced Tuesday.
The improvements will allow ships to get through the harbor quicker, cheaper and with less pollution, according to the port.
“The federal bipartisan infrastructure bill President Biden signed last month is having a direct impact in Long Beach,” Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said.
“With $8 million in direct funding to the Port of Long Beach, we continue our partnership with the federal government to address supply chain challenges. I am proud of the work we will be doing to enable larger ships to enter our port and move goods faster.”
The Army Corps signed a report last October that said deepening and widening channels in the port’s harbor would reduce air pollution, improve vessel navigation and create almost $21 million in national economic benefits each year.
“Long Beach is home to the second-busiest container port in the nation,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Improving the ability of ships to navigate channels here will have economic benefits for the entire country. Locally, creating navigational efficiencies will move ships through the harbor faster, reducing air pollution. There will be a good return for this investment, and we thank our federal partners for this allocation to assist with our comprehensive harbor-deepening program.”
The plan will deepen the Approach Channel by 4 feet, bringing it to 80 feet deep. It will also create an approach channel at Pier J South with a 55-foot depth, deepen portions of the West Basin from 50 feet to 55 feet and make structural improvements to breakwaters at Pier J to allow for a 55 foot depth.
The funds allocated by the bipartisan infrastructure bill will allow for the preconstruction, engineering and design phases to be initiated and completed.
“We have a longstanding relationship with the Port of Long Beach and are pleased that this supplemental funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will assist the port by keeping our federal waterways safe and navigable, and promoting economic stability for the region and our country,” said Col. Julie Balten, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership with the port to increase transportation efficiencies for container and liquid bulk vessels, for both the current and future fleet, and improve conditions for vessel operations and safety.”