Once again, for the third year in a row, not progress will be made on Anchorage's port expansion project as the construction season looms.

Construction of the project was to be completed this past year, instead the project has only delays and studies to look foreward to as work remains at a halt. Studies of the design are being conducted by CH2M Hill, who is under contract by the Corps of Engineers. This design study’s cost has now reachedr $2 million. This study is taking place at the same time the Corps itself is conducting a study on the project.

The behind schedule, over budget project has a new director at the helm, Richard Wilson is to take on the reins of the project later this month. The 37 year Alasskan takes on the project after working the port project in Saint George as well as working as development director for the Ted Stevens International Airport project that expanded international cargo accomadations there.

While Steve Ribuffo, interim director at the port, says that he looks forward to getting the project back on track, Mayor Sullivan assured the legislature that the project was already back on track in February when he approached the legislature for more money to complete the pared down project.

Mayor Sullivan asked the legislature for an additional $350 million this year to complete the current phase of the project, but the legislature responded with $25 million from the state budget and an additional $50 million in a bond package. Monies for the study more than likely will come from these allocations.

Roughly $280 million has already been spent on this project that was slated to be complete last year, but estimates of the completion date go out as far as 2021. While Ribuffo doesn’t think that the project will be re-started anew, he does say that studies may point to a modification in design. Presently, the Corps of Engineers and the Maritime administration are working out organizational structure for the project.