Excavation work progresses on Panama Canal

The excavation of Paraiso Hill is part of the first contract for the dry excavation of the Pacific locks access channel for the Canal. This new channel will link a new, third set of locks on the Pacific end of the Canal with the existing Gaillard Cut (the Canal’s narrowest stretch). Since December, the Panamanian company Constructora Urbana SA has been working 24 hours a day to advance this part of the contract, which will ultimately reduce the hill to a height of 46 m.