Hawaii’s Department of Transportation (HDOT) has announced that plans to almost double the US state’s cargo handling capacity will start to take place with the construction of the new Kapalama Container Terminal (KCT) at Honolulu Harbor in December 2017.
After almost ten years since plans were conceived, two phases of the Harbors Modernization Plan will invest an estimated US$448 million into Kapalama in a four-year project that will create a new 84-acre container yard and 1,800 linear feet of new berthing space.
Goernor. David Ige and the HDOT Harbors Division announced that Kiewit Infrastructure West Company will construct the first phase of the project after beating six companies with a $163 million bid.
Upon completion, targeted for 2022, KCT will reduce the congestion in Honolulu Harbor.
Its location bordering the existing interisland cargo yard will allow approximately 50,000 truckloads per year to move directly between the facilities, alleviating traffic on adjacent road ways.
This is important to the island’s residents as imports make up more than 80% of all goods consumed in Hawaii.
Phase one includes an 84-acre container yard with an elevated two-foot grade to accommodate sea level rise.
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There will also be construction of support buildings, entry and exit gates, security fencing, parking, gantry cranes and container-handling equipment, on-site utilities, energy efficient lighting and a HDOT-Highways weigh station.
HDOT said that phase two for the waterside construction of the project is “tentatively scheduled to be out to bid in 2018, pending permit approvals”.
Govenor Ige said: “The Kapalama cargo yard is one of the most significant and impactful achievements of this administration.
“This achievement means there will be more shipping options for the business community throughout the state, which lends itself to competitive pricing and lower costs for consumers.
“We are modernizing Honolulu Harbor with much needed infrastructure improvements and creating space for a new service to enter the market while expanding terminal capacity for the entire shipping industry.
“This is not only a diversification of carriers, but of channels into our harbor to ensure the efficient and safe transport of goods to our islands.”
