Final Phase of Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment Progresses

The Port of Long Beach (POLB) said in their latest release that the third and final phase of the Middle Harbor Terminal Redevelopment Project is underway and on track to be completed on time and on budget.

When finished, the facility operated by Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) will be a 311-acre modern marvel equipped with the most advanced technologies in North America and the cleanest available cargo handling equipment, said the Port in its statement.

“Phase 3 completes the creation of the most innovative, efficient and clean terminal in the Americas,” said LBCT President Anthony Otto, who has worked with the Port on the modernization project from concept to fruition. “We’ve had tremendous success with the first two phases, and we’re excited to be closing in on full build-out.”

The Port’s construction budget for Middle Harbor is $1.493 billion. The first two phases totaled about $1 billion, and the cost of the final phase is estimated at $470 million.

“Middle Harbor is a feat of engineering and a model of sustainability,” said Port Executive Director Mario Cordero. “Once the final phase is built and operating at full capacity, the Middle Harbor Terminal alone would rank as the nation’s sixth-busiest container port.”

Phase 3

The project’s final phase centers on the last 112 acres: building out the container yard, extending the wharf to its full length of 4,250 feet and completing the on-dock rail yard.

Like the first two phases, Phase 3 components are designed to maximize energy efficiency, resource conservation and recycling of materials from demolished structures.

Environmental highlights of the final phase include:

• Reusing approximately 1.4 million cubic yards of dredge sediments as fill to support the construction of the last segments of wharf and container yard;
• Recycling demolished concrete and asphalt from the previous structures and paved areas to use as crushed miscellaneous base material for the foundation of the new yard pavement.

Completing Middle Harbor

The first phase, which opened in 2016, and the second phase, which opened in 2017, completed 197 acres of new terminal, including two berths for the next generation of megaships calling now or in the future at the Port.

Completing the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project will free up 2 more acres to finish the north truck gate complex, bringing the total terminal area to 311 acres when the third and final phase is done.