Port of Oakland gets approval to proceed with turning basin widening project

The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has certified the final environmental impact report and approved the advancement of a project to widen the turning basins at the Oakland Seaport. The decision was made at a board meeting on July 10.

The planned project involves widening both the inner and outer harbor turning basins to better accommodate the larger vessels that now routinely call at the port. The Port of Oakland stated that current transit restrictions for these ships result in operational inefficiencies and delays, including delays in connecting to shore power.

The project’s design phase is expected to begin later this year, with construction anticipated to start in mid-2027, the port said.

Kristi McKenney, the Port of Oakland's Executive Director, stated that the project will, "preserve the port's economic competitiveness". She added that the widening project will use "100 per cent electric dredging" and that the dredged material will be used for new wetland restoration projects.