Safeguarding Alaska's Lifeline: Rebuilding the Port of Alaska to safeguard food security and economic resilience

The Port of Alaska in Anchorage, located at the north end of the Knik Arm, is a critical infrastructure facility that handles more than 85 percent of the state's containerized imports and 90 percent of the state's liquid fuel. As part of the Port's Multiphase Modernization Program, the existing Terminal 1 berth, a key component of the port, is being replaced with a seismically resilient structure designed to withstand harsh cold region demands and challenging environmental site constraints. If this terminal is not operational, it could lead to a humanitarian crisis for the state. The port also supports the Department of Defense joint base through additional vessel berth locations and is the main fuel source for the Alaska Anchorage Airport. However, the current terminal is both functionally and structurally obsolete, meaning it's not big enough and has surpassed its useable design life, and therefore needs to be replaced. Additionally, the current facilities are extremely vulnerable to seismic events, which could have devastating consequences given Alaska's history of large-magnitude earthquakes.

One of the biggest challenges faced by the port is the need to remain fully operational throughout the construction process. The shipping and offloading of goods and materials from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 cannot stop at any time, necessitating a phased construction approach. The harsh Arctic weather conditions, including sea ice, also pose a significant challenge, limiting the annual construction window and constraining construction means and methods. The presence of beluga whales, a protected native mammal species, adds another layer of complexity, as environmental permits are very sensitive to any vibration in the water caused by construction activities. If the whales are present, all work must shut down to avoid disturbing them, and pile installation operations must be configured to limit the number of mammal disturbances in a calendar year as required by permitting.

GHD, in a joint venture with WSP, provided design, bid and construction support services for the project. GHD served as the project manager and provided expertise in civil engineering, electrical engineering, corrosion control, fire protection, coastal engineering and navigation, while WSP focused on the waterside structural and geotechnical aspects. The team carefully considered various factors such as the number of piles that could be installed with an efficient construction team, the required lengths for each vessel type, and the use of top-down or water side construction methods to develop a comprehensive plan for the project's construction approach. The design team had a compressed 10-month schedule to meet the issue for construction date, which was driven by permitting efforts.

To increase construction efficiency, the design incorporated precast components to reduce cast-in-place work in the environmentally sensitive field conditions, including 200-foot-long, 72-inch diameter, open-ended, steel pipe piles supporting long-span, capacity protected, precast pile-to-cap connections, precast beams and precast deck panels. The project also involved the use of stronger, well-coated materials like galvanized steel and a robust corrosion protection system to withstand the harsh environment. The fendering system, designed to accommodate the wharf's unique berthing and mooring requirements necessitated by large tidal fluctuations and brisk currents, consists of two vertically stacked element fenders connected with a large steel panel and connecting to both wharf and piles.

The rebuilding of Terminal 1 at the Port of Alaska is pivotal in ensuring food security for the state, a point emphasized by the mayor's campaign. The project's successful completion is essential for the uninterrupted flow of goods into Anchorage and the continued functioning of Alaska as a whole. Given the state's remote location and unforgiving climate, Alaska is heavily dependent on its maritime infrastructure and the vital goods transported via its waterways.

The new Terminal 1 will not only safeguard the port's operations but also accommodate modern shipping needs, enhance safety and resiliency against natural disasters, and improve cargo handling efficiency. Designed to handle a wide range of cargo, including containers, heavy-lift, cruise ships, military vessels, and potentially future petroleum operations, the replacement Terminal 1 berth will secure the Port of Alaska's future and have a lasting positive impact on the entire state. With construction anticipated to be completed in 2028, this project is a critical investment in Alaska's long-term economic stability and well-being.