Oakland International Airport (OAK) has completed Phase 1 of its 30 million USD Airport Perimeter Dike Improvement Project, which will provide the airport with protection against flooding and rising sea levels for the next 30-35 years.
The Airport Perimeter Dike (APD) is approximately 4.5 miles long and runs along OAK’s shoreline between the Cities of Alameda and San Leandro in California.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) said: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.
Construction on Phase 1 of OAK’s Flood Hazard Protection Project began in 2020 and took approximately two years to complete. The project has improved the dike’s stability and raised its height to provide OAK with further protection from flooding. The defence is comprised primarily of sand, gravel, and clay.
The total cost of the APD Improvement Project was approximately 30 million USD, which was partially funded by 6.4 million USD in grants from the State of California under its Local Levee Assistance Program. The remainder of the project was self-funded by the Port of Oakland.
Bryant L. Francis, Director of Aviation at the Port of Oakland, said:The completion of the Airport Perimeter Dike Improvement Project sets OAK up to support smooth airport operations for the next 30-35 years. 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 second phase of OAK’s Flood Hazard Protection Project is scheduled to begin in 2023 to improve the site’s earthquake resiliency. In this phase, additional support columns will be installed for the dike that are designed to mitigate the effects of seismic events, which are an unavoidable feature of the Bay Area’s landscape.
