The bids came in lower than the engineer’s estimate, acting Port CEO says.

EVERETT — The Port of Everett has awarded nearly $25 million in contracts for a project to rebuild the south terminal wharf to accommodate bigger ships with heavier cargo.

Construction on the project is expected to start in April and last through December 2018.

Advanced Ameri­can Construction of Portland, Oregon, received the largest contract — $24.5 million — for strengthening the wharf and doing electrical upgrades. Emmert International of Clackamas, Oregon, received a $192,000 contract to relocate a transit shed.

The port had expected that the overall project would cost $36 million, said Lisa Lefeber, acting CEO for the Port of Everett. But the bids came in lower than the engineer’s estimate, Lefeber said. These contracts, along with an earlier $5 million, put the overall project at about $30 million.

The dock was originally built in the 1970s for log operations, and in its current state, can only accommodate 500 pounds per square foot. Modern cargo operations require a minimum of 1,000 pounds per square foot. The wharf will be strengthened by adding steel pilings.

The port had previously strengthened 140 feet of the 700-foot dock. This project will strengthen the rest. The project also will add two 100-foot cranes — about twice the size of the cranes currently at the waterfront. They will be painted smoke blue.

The cranes will be able to handle regular container boxes as well as larger-than-normal container boxes. That will accommodate parts for the new 777X. Boeing has started production on the new wide-bodied jet and expects to begin test flights in 2019 and deliveries in 2020.

The port has a policy to set aside 2 percent of projects to improve access to the waterfront. From this project, the port will give the City of Everett $586,000 for those efforts. The city is still determining the best use of the funding, said Meghan Pembroke, a city spokeswoman.

Jim Davis: 425-339-3097; jdavis@heraldnet.com; @HBJnews.