Oakland Airport Moves Closer to Full Completion of Advanced Perimeter Dike System Aimed at Strengthening Aviation Continuity and Environmental Resilience

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The Port of Oakland and Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport have announced that a major infrastructure upgrade designed to strengthen the airport against climate and seismic risks is now close to completion.

The project, known as the Airport Perimeter Dike Improvement Programme, has been developed to protect the airfield from future threats linked to rising sea levels as well as potential flooding triggered by major earthquake activity. Valued at approximately $80 million, the initiative has progressed through two significant construction phases since 2020 and is now approaching final completion, with work expected to finish on schedule this September.

The scheme represents a long-term resilience investment by the Port of Oakland, aimed at reinforcing critical airport infrastructure and ensuring continued operational stability in the face of environmental and geological risks.

“As we build for future generations, the Airport Perimeter Dike Project reflects our commitment to resilient infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and economic vitality,” said Kristi McKenney, Executive Director at the Port of Oakland. “OAK operates at the edge of the San Francisco Bay, and this work ensures the airport can safely serve the region for generations to come.”

The Airport Perimeter Dike Improvement Project represents one of the most significant public infrastructure upgrades along the Bay Area waterfront, designed to strengthen long-term resilience against climate-driven flooding as well as seismic hazards. Stretching roughly 4.5 miles between Alameda and San Leandro, the dike has historically served as a protective barrier for the airport since its original construction in the 1950s. Built using layers of sand, clay, and gravel, it sits on reclaimed low-lying bay land and plays a critical role in preventing tidal intrusion and flood exposure across the airfield.

The modernization programme has been delivered as a two-stage engineering initiative. The first stage focused on increasing flood protection capacity, while the second stage concentrates on strengthening subsurface ground stability to withstand earthquake forces.

Phase 1: Flood defence enhancement and climate adaptation
During the first phase, the height of the dike was increased to meet and exceed FEMA regulatory standards. Engineers intentionally added an extra foot of elevation above the minimum requirement to provide a wider safety margin. This upgrade is expected to extend protection for approximately 30 to 35 years, accounting for projected sea level rise, storm surge events, and broader climate variability. Construction for this phase was completed over a two-year period and concluded in 2022.

Phase 2: Earthquake resilience and ground stabilisation (final stage underway)
The second phase targets a strategically identified 5,000-foot section of the dike that required additional seismic strengthening. The works involve the application of Cement Deep Soil Mixing (CDSM), a specialised geotechnical technique used to reinforce weak ground conditions beneath major infrastructure. This process blends deep soil layers with cement to form hardened structural columns, significantly improving ground stability and reducing risks linked to settlement and liquefaction during seismic activity. Work is currently in its final stages near runway 12-30 in the airport’s southern field, with completion anticipated around September 2026 after approximately 1.5 years of construction.

From a financial perspective, Phase 1 was completed at an estimated cost of $30 million, including $6.4 million contributed through California’s Local Levee Assistance Program. Phase 2 carries an estimated budget of $52.7 million, with around $32 million supported by the Federal Aviation Administration under the Airport Improvement Program. Combined, the overall investment for both phases is projected to reach approximately $80 million.

The first phase was delivered by O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., while the ongoing second phase is being executed by Granite Construction, Inc., reflecting a coordinated effort between state, federal, and specialist engineering partners to secure long-term operational resilience for the airport and surrounding coastal infrastructure.

“Given the Bay Area’s high seismic exposure and the airport’s location on soils prone to liquefaction, this work is essential to maintaining operational integrity following a major seismic event,” said Emilia Sánchez, Director of Engineering at the Port of Oakland. “This project ensures OAK will be ready when the region needs it most.”

OAK functions as a key hub for regional emergency response as well as the uninterrupted flow of economic activity. Its ability to remain operational during and after major incidents is essential for coordinating disaster relief efforts and ensuring that critical logistics operations continue without disruption.

Maintaining airport functionality in such situations also plays a central role in enabling the movement of essential cargo and preserving supply chain stability. This operational resilience supports faster recovery for affected communities and helps reduce the wider economic impact of emergencies.

Taken together, both phases of the Airport Perimeter Dike Project represent a long-term strategic investment. The initiative is designed to strengthen overall regional resilience, improve safety standards, and support the development of more sustainable and robust infrastructure for the future.