The Port of Oakland has gained another stamp of approval for its “Turning Basins Widening Project,” bringing it one step closer to an expansion that will widen both the Inner and Outer Harbor turning basins at the Oakland Seaport, thus allowing bigger ships to turn around while exchanging containers.
Specifically, the Oakland Board of Port Commissioners this week certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and approved advancement of the project. Following that approval, the project’s design phase should begin later this year, with construction anticipated to begin in mid-2027.
The work is needed because vessels routinely arriving at Oakland have continued to grow larger, and in particular longer, the port said. That triggers transit restrictions resulting in inefficiencies which lead to delays, including plugging in to shore power, and negative economic impacts.
“We’re moving forward on a long-standing project that will preserve the Port’s economic competitiveness and allow the Port to continue delivering benefits to the local region and nation,” Port of Oakland Executive Director Kristi McKenney said in a release. “We have listened to the community in the preparation of the FEIR to reduce major impacts, especially regarding air quality where the Port committed to additional ‘above and beyond’ measures to ensure the community is protected with air quality impacts reduced to less than significant. We’re also using 100% electric dredging and creating beneficial reuse opportunities for new wetland restoration with the material generated from the project.”
