Construction Begins on Honolulu Pier 29 Project

As a result of a $24.5m American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, work began in earnest on Honolulu Harbor’s Pier 29 Container Yard as federal, state, local and other officials broke ground on the reconstruction project.

“The Oahu Pier 29 Container Yard reconstruction project is a terrific example of what the Recovery Act was meant to do – shore up our transportation infrastructure and create jobs and economic opportunities,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The Obama Administration is committed to transportation projects like these that are creating jobs across America and strengthening our economy.”

The Pier 29 cargo yard suffered failures and was rendered unusable in 2008.  The new pier will increase harbor efficiency and safety by improving 12 acres of existing port yard area to support cargo operations that are vital to Hawaii’s water-dependent economy.  It is due to reopen in December 2011.

Construction will include new pavement, drainage, water, lighting, sewer, fire protection and electrical systems. Ultimately, Pier 29 will shift truck traffic away from highly congested areas to further improve freight efficiencies and air quality.

“Preserving and creating jobs is what the Recovery Act is all about,” said Maritime Administrator David T. Matsuda, who was on hand for the ground breaking. “We’re bolstering the construction industry through significant investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure. Hawaii’s Pier 29 reconstruction project represents just such a critical project.”

The $24.5m grant is from the U.S. Department of Transportation TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) program, part of the Recovery Act, designed to promote innovative, multi-modal and multi-jurisdictional transportation projects that provide significant economic and environmental benefits to an entire metropolitan area, region or the nation.

The Department announced the selection of $1.5b worth of TIGER grants for 51 projects as part of a one-year anniversary of the Recovery Act on February 17.