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Oakland, Calif. – May 24, 2022: The $30 million Airport Perimeter Dike Improvement Project Phase 1 is now complete at Oakland International Airport, which will provide protection against flooding and sea level rise at the airport for the next 30-35 years.
The Airport Perimeter Dike (APD) provides flood and shoreline protection for Oakland International Airport. It is approximately 4.5 miles long and runs along the Airport shoreline between the Cities of Alameda and San Leandro.
“The improvements made to the Oakland International Airport’s perimeter dike further protects the airport from the devastating effects we are seeing caused by global climate change. Stronger storms, and devastating flooding are only some of the reasons we need to reinforce our critical infrastructure in the coming decades. The $25 Billion that I supported for airports in the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is only the latest investment Congress has provided to prepare our nation’s airports for the future,” says Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13).
“The completion of the Airport Perimeter Dike Improvement Project sets OAK up to support smooth airport operations for the next 30-35 years,” said Bryant L. Francis, Director of Aviation at the Port of Oakland. “The extra foot in height in addition to the FEMA requirement provides the airport more protection as it relates to projected sea-level rise in the coming years. This is just another example of our resiliency efforts to ensure that OAK is prepared for the challenges that the future may bring.”
The APD is comprised primarily of sand, gravel, and clay. Construction of the original APD began in the 1950s as the south field of the airport surrounded by bay waters, was constructed for passenger air service facilities. Structural improvements to the APD were made in the 1980s, as the dike requires structural maintenance and improvements approximately every 30 years.
Construction on the recently completed APD Improvement Project Phase 1 began during early 2020 and took approximately two years to complete. In order to meet FEMA regulations, OAK made improvements to the dike to enhance its stability and raise the height of the dike to further secure the airport against flooding. In addition to the FEMA required modifications, the airport also raised the dike an additional 12 inches above the standard to account for the effects of sea level rise due to global warming.
The total cost of the APD Improvement Project was approximately $30 million. The project was partially funded by two grants from the State of California under its Local Levee Assistance Program that totaled $6.4 million. The remainder of the project was self-funded by the Port of Oakland.
What’s next for OAK’s Airport Perimeter Dike:
Earthquakes are an unavoidable feature of the Bay Area’s risk landscape. The second phase of the APD Project, to improve its earthquake resiliency, is scheduled to begin later next year. In this phase, additional support columns will be installed for the dike that are specifically designed to mitigate the effects of seismic events on the APD and the airport as a whole.
OAK is looking forward to working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to leverage and use funding opportunities created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (BIL) to support critical infrastructure needs of this type.
About Oakland International Airport
Oakland International is the main airport for the greater East Bay, the most populated area in the metropolitan San Francisco Bay area. It is the closest airport to most Bay Area employers. By roadway and BART air-rail, OAK enables excellent access to all of the region’s business, entertainment and tourism venues.
The vision of Oakland International Airport is to be the airport of choice for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors alike. OAK is operated by the Port of Oakland, which also oversees the Oakland seaport and 20 miles of East Bay waterfront. Together with its business partners, the Port supports more than 84,000 jobs in the region with more than a $130 billion economic impact.
Updates about travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, current departure and arrival information, airport maps, and details about on-airport parking, shopping and dining and more, can be found at www.oaklandairport.com.
Contact - Members of the Press and Media Only
Kaley Skantz, Airport Spokesperson - kskantz@portoakland.com
OAK Media Hotline: 510.563.6500
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