Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has led a number of delegates in marking the completion of the Port of Los Angeles' Main Channel Deepening Project, a milestone in the facility's ongoing efforts to remain competitive while ensuring continued growth and ongoing job creation.
The ten-year, US$370m project to deepen the main navigational channel and turning basins allows the Port of Los Angeles to continue to accommodate bigger, more modern vessels from around the world.
'The Port of Los Angeles is a critical economic engine to the Los Angeles region,' said Mayor Villaraigosa. 'Completion of this project means that the Port will remain competitive globally, and continue to be a strong source for jobs and regional revenue growth for years to come.'
The project involved deepening the Port’s 45ft deep Main Channel, West Basin Channel and East Basin Channel to a 53ft depth.
'The number of ships and the volume of goods they will bring, the number of jobs that will result, and the economic impact on the local area and throughout the nation are important numbers,' said Mark Toy, commander of the US. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District. 'But the true worth of the project is the benefits it will provide for people. Directly or indirectly, locally or nationwide, immediately or in the future, the work we recognise today will benefit the lives of many people.'
