Freight News, Logistics, Sea

Long Beach Begins Work on Heavy-haul Corridor

[ April 24, 2026   //   Gary Burrows ]

The Port of Long Beach is expected to break ground in May on expanding capacity for project and breakbulk cargo with a US$5.5 million upgrade to its primary heavy-haul corridor, aimed at easing the movement of oversized and overweight freight through the San Pedro Bay complex.

Expected to be completed in early 2027, the project will widen intersections, improve turning radii and increase vertical and horizontal clearances along key segments linking port terminals to regional highways.

CEO Noel Hacegaba said the investment targets a growing segment of non-containerized cargo that includes transformers, construction equipment and other non-reducible loads. “This infrastructure project will strengthen our ability to move transformers, heavy-duty construction equipment and other supersized cargo through our gateway,” he said.

The improvements are designed to remove bottlenecks along the current route, including tight turns and limited clearance points that often require temporary removal of traffic signals or detours for oversized loads.

Heavy-haul cargo is defined as loads exceeding standard trucking dimensions, including widths greater than 8 feet 6 inches, heights above 14 feet or weights of more than 80,000 pounds. Such cargo typically cannot be broken down and often serves sectors such as energy, aerospace and large-scale construction.

The upgrade also supports the port’s broader US$1.8 billion Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility program, which will eventually close the long-used 9th Street Crossing, currently a critical route for the largest over-dimensional shipments.

Permitting remains a key operational hurdle for project cargo. Moves often require approvals from multiple jurisdictions, including local, county and state agencies, depending on route and load specifications.

Port officials said the redesigned corridor will reduce reliance on complex routing and improve safety for both heavy-haul operators and general cargo traffic.

The investment reflects continued demand for breakbulk and project cargo handling at major U.S. gateways, particularly as energy, infrastructure and industrial projects drive movements of large-format freight through West Coast ports.

Tags: Port of Long Beach