The Expansion Project

Expansion Project
American Investment
Canal Police Force

Maximum capacity?

A study by the Panama Canal Authority in the early 2000 showed the canal would reach its maximum sustainable capacity between 2009 and 2012.

A bold proposal?


Then-Panamanian President Martín Torrijos formally proposed a project with three goals:

    • Build two new sets of bigger locks, one each on the Atlantic and Pacific sides, and excavated new channels to the new locks.
    • Widen and deepen existing channels.
    • Raise the maximum operating water level of Gatun Lake.

The project was to be completed by 2014 – to coincide with the canals 100th anniversary.  A national referendum approved the proposal by a 76.8 percent majority on October 22.

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