Panama Canal Expansion: The Third Locks Project and 2016 Opening (2007–2016)

1. National referendum approves third set of locks

   Oct 22, 2006Labels: Panama referendum, Panama Canal

   • Electoral data
   • CBS News

2. Groundbreaking begins expansion-era excavation work

   Sep 3, 2007Labels: Groundbreaking ceremony, Pacific access

   • Britannica

3. ACP qualifies consortia to bid on new locks

   Dec 1, 2007Labels: Panama Canal, International consortia

   • Britannica

4. Main locks construction contract awarded to GUPC

   Jul 1, 2009Labels: GUPC, Main locks

   • SEC filing
   • ENR

5. Pacific access-channel excavation phase completed

   Oct 1, 2011Labels: Pacific access, Excavation completed

   • Expansion overview

6. ACP announces expansion schedule slips by six months

   Apr 16, 2012Labels: Panama Canal, Schedule delay

   • ENR

7. First Pacific-side lock monolith completed

   Jun 19, 2012Labels: Pacific locks, Lock monolith

   • ACP release

8. Work slows amid cost-overrun dispute and stoppage risk

   Jan 6, 2014Labels: Cost overrun, GUPC

   • ENR

9. ACP and GUPC reach agreement to resume and finish work

   Mar 7, 2014Labels: ACP-GUPC agreement, Construction resumption

   • WorkBoat
   • ENR

10. New lock chambers begin flooding for operational tests

    Jun 11, 2015Labels: Atlantic locks, Operational testing

    • ACP release
    • ENR

11. Crack reported at Cocolí Locks during testing period

    Aug 25, 2015Labels: Cocol Locks, Concrete crack

    • gCaptain

12. First full test transit uses new locks

    Jun 9, 2016Labels: Test transit, New locks

    • ENR

13. Expanded Panama Canal opens with inaugural Cosco transit

    Jun 26, 2016Labels: Expanded canal, Cosco Shipping

    • DW
    • Xinhua
    • Britannica