When was the Panama Canal expansion completed?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Panama Canal has undergone multiple expansion programs throughout its history.

The most recent major expansion, known as the Third Set of Locks Project, was completed in June 2016 and officially opened on June 26, 2016. This project significantly increased the canal's capacity by adding two new sets of locks, allowing for the passage of larger "neo-Panamax" ships.1

Prior to this, an earlier expansion program focused on widening the Gaillard Cut was completed in 2001.1