20070903 Panama set to begin $5bn project

Panama set to begin $5bn project

Monday, 3 September 2007

This very brief article caught my eye as I have always been fascinated with the history of, and the building and operation of the Panama Canal. I have had friends take a cruise through the canal and their reports confirm that it remains on my list of “must things to do” before I get too old to enjoy.

Panama is set to start work on a $5bn (£2.4bn) building project to widen the Panama Canal to increase its capacity.

The project involves adding a third set of locks that will enable modern ships to use the canal. Many tankers are now too large for the 50-mile (80km) route.

Panama residents overwhelmingly backed the plan in a referendum held in 2006.

The entire, albeit very short article can be found here: Panama set to begin $5bn project