Panama Canal Reviews Bids for Expansion Construction Project

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) officially began reviewing bids for the first construction project under the Canal's expansion program on last Friday, July 6. Submissions to perform the dry excavation of the new Pacific Locks access channel will be thoroughly reviewed and a winner will be determined in the coming weeks.

In a ceremony, the ACP opened each bid submission. After reviewing them, the proposal that meets all of the project's criteria and needs, with the best price, will be selected. There were 10 submissions.

On May 7, the ACP released its tender (request for proposal submission) for the first of five dry excavation projects of the new Pacific Locks access channel that will link the new third set of locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the narrowest stretch in the Panama Canal). This project represents approximately 16 percent of the total excavation for the new Pacific Locks access channel.

The scope of work for the first dry excavation will include the removal of non-classified material, the disposal of excavated material and the construction of new gravel roads and ditches. Site work could begin as early as two weeks after the chosen firm receives confirmation from the ACP and is given the order to proceed.

With the recent approval of the environmental impact study (EIS) for the dry excavation project from the Panamanian National Environmental Authority (ANAM), the ACP has the green light to move forward.

Expansion will build a new lane of traffic along the Panama Canal through the construction of a new set of locks, which will double capacity and allow more traffic and longer, wider ships.