On 23 January, the Port of San Diego celebrated the start of a $24 million public works project that will modernize its Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal. Referred to as the Modernization, the project will remove two obsolete warehouses and create much-needed laydown area for larger project cargo.
The project includes also improvements to utilities, new lighting and pavement. New modular office space, utility enclosures and restrooms will be added, as well as on-dock rail improvements.
“The timing is right for this project as the Port of San Diego is poised for additional growth in the Blue Economy,” said Chairman Rafael Castellanos. “We are the fourth largest port in the state and this project will allow the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal to handle up to 4.6 million metric tons of cargo annually and create many great jobs, while protecting the environment by incorporating smart technology to reduce pollution.”
The Modernization is the first phase of a larger, market-driven project that supports the Port of San Diego’s specialty cargo advantage by providing laydown space and flexibility for each cargo type. The long-term redevelopment plan envisions three distinct cargo nodes within the existing footprint of the terminal and is focused on project and break-bulk cargo, refrigerated containers and dry bulk cargo.
Based on identified cargo volume increases and other triggers, the project is also expected to facilitate implementation of the long-term redevelopment plan that includes innovative technologies to help safeguard the environment around the terminal. Zero and near-zero emission freight equipment will be implemented at the terminal over the next 20 years and an emission-capturing bonnet system is planned to capture harmful pollutants for vessels that are unable to use shore power while at berth.
“This project will expand trade capacity, providing more good jobs, and even more importantly will demonstrate environmental stewardship of Barrio Logan by providing a cleaner, smarter cargo terminal that emits less pollutants than it does today,” said San Diego City Councilmember David Alvarez.
The Port competed for a $10 million TIGER grant from the US Department of Transportation to help fund the first phase of the Modernization. The Port will match the grant with a $14 million contribution. Phase I of the modernization project is anticipated to take approximately 13 months to complete.
