Concrete-Pour Signals another Phase in Panama Canal Expansion

The arrival of the second set of rolling gates at the Pacific side of the Panama Canal set the stage for a new milestone in its expansion: the pouring of more than two million cubic meters of concrete at the west wall of the middle lock chamber.

"This is another milestone that shows the progress of various components of the Canal Expansion Project," said the administrator of the Panama Canal Authority, Jorge Luis Quijano.

In total, 4.3 million cubic meters of concrete is required to complete the construction of two lock complexes. To date, a total of 1.8 million cubic meters of concrete has been poured on the Atlantic side.

The new lock complexes in the Pacific and Atlantic sides will feature three chambers, three water-saving basins per chamber, a lateral filling and emptying system and rolling gates.

A total of 76.3 percent progress has been achieved under the Canal Expansion Program as of May 31, 2014.