Long Beach vows port improvements

Long Beach vows port improvements    Port of Long Beach Executive Director Richard D. Steinke said his agency remains committed to modernization and environmental improvement projects, despite worldwide recession and slowing global trade.
   “The world will rebound from this economic downturn, and when it does, we will be at the forefront because of the investments we are making today,” said Steinke, making his annual “state of the port address” to the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce’s International Business Association.
   Long-planned infrastructure development projects will require about $2.6 billion worth of construction in the coming years and include:
   ' The proposed Middle Harbor Redevelopment Project, a 10-year, $750-million project to remake two aging container docks into one environmentally efficient terminal. The project will generate 1,000 construction jobs a year and 14,000 goods movement jobs to the Southern California region when it is completed, the port said. It adds the new terminal would move twice as much cargo with half the air pollution.
   ' A new cargo container terminal on Terminal Island at Pier S.
   ' Replacing the aged Gerald Desmond Bridge, which connects downtown Long Beach to Terminal Island.
   The “state of the port” archived webcast is available here.