King Harbor Breakwater Gets a $6.8 Million Makeover

When you stroll along Redondo Beach’s shoreline and glance out at King Harbor, the massive concrete and stone wall that hugs the water often fades into the background. Yet behind that quiet facade, a huge $6.8 million renovation is under way, the first major overhaul since 1999.

Contractors from Connolly‑Pacific arrived in late June, hauling a water‑based crane onto a floating barge to start dismantling and resetting the old armor stones. Those boulders, some weighing as much as 20 tons, are being swapped out for fresh, hefty rocks barged in from Catalina Island – roughly 8,000 tons in total, according to the project plans.

“The structure is incredibly robust and one of the largest in Southern California, with a crest height of 20 feet,” explained Blake Horita, the Los Angeles District project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He added that, despite the wear and tear, the breakwater is still fully functional – a testament to the over‑building that followed the catastrophic 1988 storm.

That 1988 event was a watershed moment. A ferocious winter surge sent 25‑foot waves crashing over the barrier, ripping out boulders and punching at least seven holes in the wall. The damage, estimated at over $16 million, forced the Corps to rethink the harbor’s defenses, eventually raising sections of the north breakwater and extending the south side.

Fast‑forward to today, routine annual inspections have flagged accelerating damage from relentless wave impacts. While the engineers assure the public that a catastrophic failure is unlikely, they warned that untreated weak spots could evolve into localized breaches.

The current repair scope is fairly straightforward: reset any displaced armor stone, replace damaged sections, and rebuild the armor‑stone bench on the harbor side. A recent California Regional Water Quality Control Board notice had even floated a larger figure – up to 15,000 tons of stone and 2,000 cubic yards of dredging – but the federal contract ultimately settled on the 8,000‑ton figure.

Work is moving along Mole B, with the barge periodically hopping to new staging spots. The city has tried to keep Moonstone Park accessible, even as a few parking spaces have been repurposed for the project. Boaters are being asked to stay alert for anchor wires and other temporary hazards, and the Lanakila Outrigger Club will continue to operate throughout the construction window.

Originally built in phases starting in 1937, the breakwater has seen several upgrades over the decades. The last major repair before this one took place in 1999, making this the most substantial maintenance effort in more than two decades.

Construction is slated to wrap up by mid‑November, a little later than the city’s initial October target. When it’s finished, the restored barrier will once again sit at its designed height, width, and slope, continuing to shield the harbor’s piers, marinas, and the countless boats that call King Harbor home.

For anyone interested in the finer details, the Army Corps maintains a public page on the Redondo Beach‑King Harbor navigation project, where you can track permits, engineering drawings, and future maintenance plans.