Two Port of Tacoma construction projects are expected to get a little noisy this week and next as contractors drive piling to extend a wharf and complete one night of tide-dependent work to create fish habitat.

A Port contractor will begin today or Tuesday to drive the first of 361 concrete piling in the Blair Waterway to expand a Washington United Terminals wharf.

Manson Construction of Seattle plans to work from about 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays to drive the piles for the berth before the annual fish migration season begins mid-February, ending all in-water work until mid-July.

The pile driving is to extend an existing berth another 600 feet to support two large cranes the Hyundai Merchant Marine terminal added in January 2009. The extended berth should be complete by July 2011, ready to serve the world’s largest ships. Learn more about the project.

Contractors also will work through the night Nov. 22 near the end of the Hylebos Waterway off Marine View Drive. The low -2.3-foot tides that night will allow Tucci and Sons of Tacoma to finish excavating intertidal channels and removing a 300-foot berm for fish habitat.

Residents near this work might hear back-up alarms on excavation equipment and see lights through the night.

The Hylebos Creek channel work is part of a 25-acre project to create freshwater and intertidal marsh, forested upland and riparian habitat. The site eventually will include public access that allows the habitat to be viewed from a platform. Learn more about the habitat.

About the Port of Tacoma
The Port of Tacoma is an economic engine for South Puget Sound, with more than 43,000 family-wage jobs in Pierce County and 113,000 jobs across Washington state connected to Port activities. A major gateway to Asia and Alaska, the Port of Tacoma is among the largest container ports in North America. The Port is also a major center for bulk, breakbulk and project/heavy-lift cargoes, as well as automobiles and trucks.