PORT OF LOS ANGELES RECEIVES TRANSPORTATION AWARD
FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
SAN PEDRO, Calif. - December 14, 2017 - The Port of Los Angeles has won a “B.E.S.T. Award” from the American Public Works Association (APWA) Southern California Chapter for the Port’s John S. Gibson Boulevard/I-110 Freeway Access Ramp Improvements project.
The B.E.S.T. Awards (Building Excellence Shaping Tomorrow) are given each year by the APWA in recognition of outstanding capital improvement projects and public works programs by public agencies.
“We are honored to be recognized for this project, which required the cooperation and support of Cal-Trans, other agencies, project teams and stakeholders to successfully complete on time and under budget,” said Tony Gioiello, deputy executive director of development at the Port of Los Angeles. “Working together, we’ve been able to make an impact in our community and improve the safety of our local highways.”
Completed in 2016, the improvements entailed the widening of the SR-47 (Seaside Freeway) connector to the Harbor Freeway with an additional lane, and modifying the freeway ramps at John S. Gibson Boulevard. Enhancements were designed to help ease traffic congestion and improve safety at key access points to the northbound I-110 (Harbor Freeway). The project also added bike lanes and sidewalks on John S. Gibson Boulevard, sound wall construction, widening of Channel Street and Pacific Avenue bridges, as well as railroad realignment.
Approximately $24.2 million of the $46 million improvement project was funded through grants. These included $7.4 million from Metro; $13.2 million from the State Trade Corridors Improvement Fund (TCIF); and $3.6 million from a SAFETEA-LU federal grant. The remaining project costs were funded by the Port of Los Angeles.
The roadway access improvement project – which won in the APWA’s regional transportation category – represented the first collaboration between the Port of Los Angeles and Caltrans. It also entailed working and coordinating closely with homeowners adjacent to the project sound wall locations, and close collaboration with another port construction project team to minimize road closures for the public. The project was completed with zero work injuries in 135,000 person-hours of activities.
Representatives from both the Port’s Engineering and Construction Divisions were on hand to receive the B.E.S.T. Award, presented today by the APWA Southern California Chapter at a ceremony at the Lakewood Civic Center.