Don Young Port of Alaska — Cargo Terminal 1 Replacement

Anchorage is rebuilding the wharf that feeds most of Alaska. A $977 million program replaces aging cargo infrastructure at the Don Young Port of Alaska, with a new cargo terminal estimated for completion in 2029.

Project Scope
Construction began in 2026 on a replacement for Cargo Terminal 1, part of a long-running modernization of a port whose original docks have corroded well past their design life. The work proceeds while the port stays operational, a constraint that shapes phasing and cost on nearly every element.

Why It Matters
Roughly half of everything consumed in Alaska moves across this port, so its condition is a statewide resilience issue, not just a local one. The facility also sits in a seismically active zone, which raises the engineering bar for new marine structures. Replacing it is expensive and slow, but the alternative, a failure at the state’s primary supply point, is the scenario the program exists to prevent.

Project Team & Details