Corps of Engineers uses Recovery Act funds for Port of Anchorage expansion

By US Army Corps of Engineers Alaska DistrictAugust 4, 2009

Dredging at Port of Anchorage
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Aerial view of the Port of Anchorage Alaska
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ANCHORAGE - Dredging in front of new dock facilities at the Port of Anchorage has begun under a $23.5 million contract awarded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District. Funding for the project is part of the $49.7 million that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designated for the Alaska District's civil works projects in the state.

The Port of Anchorage serves 80 percent of Alaska's population and 90 percent of the state's consumer goods, and is a strategic port for military use. The dredging supports the Port's ongoing intermodal expansion project, planned to allow larger ships to call and offer more room for commercial cargo handling, a cruise ship terminal, and to support rapid deployment from Alaska's military bases.

When complete, the expansion will nearly triple the size of the Port, with more dock space and industrial land, two new barge berths, state-of-the-art container cranes, and new connections to the Alaska Railroad. The Port handles four million tons of freight a year, as well as all the jet fuel for Elmendorf Air Force Base and most of the fuel for the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Manson Construction received the firm fixed-price contract that requires the work to be accomplished by Nov. 1, 2011. The contractor will remove an estimated 1.9 million cubic yards of materials never dredged before, including boulders and other obstructions, along a north and south dock extension and two new barge facilities associated with the port expansion. The barge facilities will be dredged to minus 25 and 35 feet mean lower low water and the dock facilities will be dredged to minus 35 feet MLLW.

Related Links:

US Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District

Port of Anchorage

HQ US Army Corps of Engineers

USACE Recovery Act Site

USACE ARRA Projects Interactive Map