A Port of Tacoma contractor will begin to drive the first of 361 concrete piling Thursday in the Blair Waterway to expand a Washington United Terminals wharf.
The $31 million project will extend an existing berth another 600 feet to support two large new cranes the Hyundai Merchant Marine-owned terminal added in January 2009. The larger wharf and “super post-Panamax” cranes will be able to serve the world’s largest ships.
Manson Construction of Seattle plans to work from about 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and possibly some weekends to drive 29 piles for the berth before the annual fish migration season begins mid-February, ending all in-water work until mid-July.
The wharf extension is estimated to create about 30 full-time construction jobs during the 18-month project. Learn more about the project.
The extended berth should be complete by July 2011, ready to serve the world’s largest ships.
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.
Contact: Tara Mattina, Port of Tacoma, (253) 428-8674