The Biggest NYC Infrastructure Project You Haven't Heard of...

NYC's long-declining waterfront industry is expected to experience a new boom time, as the expansion of the Panama Canal will allow double the cargo and much larger ships to call at New York's harbor by 2024.

1 minute read

April 24, 2012, 7:00 AM PDT

By Anonymous (not verified)


John Farley reports how a key vote in Panama held six years ago will impact shipping across North America, and necessitate massive infrastructure investments in New York, including the $1 billion dredging of the Hudson River, the $1 billion raising of the Bayonne Bridge, and the $250 million relocation of siphons used to supply emergency drinking water to Staten Island.

"In 2006, Panamanian voters approved a massive plan to double the shipping capacity of the Panama Canal. The expansion will allow an influx of large, post-Panamax container ships (Panamax refers to the size limit of ships that currently pass through the canal) to travel up the eastern seaboard. The problem is, only the ports in Miami and Norfolk, VA, are able to handle these types of ships on the east coast. Other ports, including the those overseen by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are working fast to update their harbor infrastructure to accommodate these ships. When the big ships come in, starting in 2014, the long-declining waterfront industry is expected to experience a new boom time."

Thanks to Charnee Perez

Monday, April 23, 2012 in MetroFocus

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

UPS delivery cargo bike with covered front seat in New York City

NYC Delivery ‘Microhubs’ Aim to Cut Down on Truck Pollution

The hubs are designed to provide parking for large delivery trucks, which can pass on their cargo to bikes or other zero-emission vehicles.

1 hour ago - Smart Cities Dive

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8