Completed in 1914, the project was the most ambitious undertaking by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in its time. Today, the $5.25 billion upgrade is in the works.
The Panama Canal is a 51-mile shortcut that connects the Atlantic and Pacific at the Isthmus of Panama. Without it, the logistics of global trade would be vastly different on all fronts as cargo ships and container vessels have to make their ways around South America, wasting both time and fuels.
The existing infrastructure has two sets of locks that allow "Panamax" ships (106' x 965') to pass through. Due for completion in 2014, the expansion will neither truncate the time nor distance for ships that travel in either direction, but it will increase the number of daily passages from 35 to 50 ships and establish a "New Panamax" that is 50% wider and 25% longer, doubling the amount of cargo capacity.
"The expansion is being financed with loans from development banks to be repaid through tolls that currently reach several hundred thousand dollars for large ships. The project is huge by Panama's standards; among other things, the country's largest rock-crushing plant has sprung up, almost overnight, to turn the mountain of excavated rubble into sand and stone for the concrete," writes Henry Fountain of The New York Times.
FULL STORY: Panama Adding a Wider Shortcut for Shipping
Port of Long Beach Begins Massive Rail Yard Expansion
The project, which will break ground this summer, is expected to dramatically curb emissions from trucking.
Proposed Legislation Sounds Alarm on Mississippi River Drought
Without concerted restoration efforts, the river’s historically low levels could dramatically impact shipping activities and economic development throughout the region.
Drought Threatens Mississippi River Shipping Corridor
Disruption of shipping on the Mississippi could imperil food supplies and cost billions in losses.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
Colorado Bill Would Tie Transportation Funding to TOD
The proposed law would require cities to meet certain housing targets near transit or risk losing access to a key state highway fund.
Dallas Surburb Bans New Airbnbs
Plano’s city council banned all new permits for short-term rentals as concerns about their impacts on housing costs grow.
Divvy Introduces E-Bike Charging Docks
New, circular docks let e-bikes charge at stations, eliminating the need for frequent battery swaps.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
