Construction Management Opportunities and Challenges at Middle Harbor

The Port of Long Beach (Port) Middle Harbor Program is in its second year of a nine-year, $1.2 billion-development program with world-wide significance. The multiple upgrades include wider and deeper channels, wharf construction, backlands development, shore-to-ship power, expansion of on-dock rail yard facilities, and construction of a fully-automated container terminal. The capital improvements not only signify the Port's commitment to remaining competitive through infrastructure investments, but also underscore its commitment to sustainable commerce and environmental excellence. New facilities will double cargo handling capacity, cut Port-related emissions in half, and electrify container handling operations. As representatives of the Construction Management (CM) team, our challenge is to meet tenant-driven milestones amidst a host of interrelated conditions: a complex marine environment; multiple operators and stakeholders; known and unknown utilities; environmental mitigation, monitoring, and compliance; and coordination of nine simultaneous construction projects. This paper addresses construction management opportunities and challenges in the face of the nine-year program.