The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners has approved more than $127 million in construction contracts for two major projects that would modernize the marine container terminal operated by longtime tenant TraPac, Inc.
“Redevelopment of the TraPac terminal reflects the port’s larger commitment to retaining its global position as America’s premier seaport,” Port of LA Executive Director Geraldine Knatz said. “It also reflects our commitment to job creation and sustainable growth as the pathway to long-term prosperity.”
The projects are key elements of the Port of Los Angeles’ overall capital improvement program, which has the port investing more than $1.2 billion over five years.
Both contracts, which were approved Nov. 1, were awarded to California construction firms and are expected to support nearly 1,000 one-year equivalent construction jobs over the next two and half years in the greater Los Angeles five-county region.
Work is due to begin in January.
The first contract, a $71.5 million project for new buildings and state-of-the-art truck entrance and exit gates at TraPac’s rear Berths 136-139, was awarded to Costa Mesa, California-based S.J. Amoroso Construction Co. The work includes a new administration building designed to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standard, a new yard operations building, truck scales and a pedestrian bridge.
The facilities project, which also includes backland and other infrastructure improvements at Berths 145-147, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2015.
The second contract is a $55.7 million grade separation project awarded to Sacramento area-based MCM Construction. The South Wilmington Grade Separation involves building an elevated 4,100-foot roadway that links Harry Bridges Boulevard, Pier A Street and Fries Avenue to TraPac’s new entrance and separates truck from rail operations for safer and more efficient flow of traffic.
The work is due to be completed in the spring of 2015.
Both projects are part of a $365 million expansion of the TraPac terminal due to be completed in 2016. In 2009, the port, TraPac and its parent company, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), signed a 30-year lease that paved the way for the modernization project, which is expected to increase terminal productivity, green operations and generate thousands of jobs throughout Southern California.