The state of Alaska has secured $105 million in federal funding to support six essential port and maritime infrastructure projects.
The U.S. Department of Transportation selected the Alaska projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). With the influx of federal dollars, Alaska will advance efforts to modernize and expand ports, harbors, docks and other associated infrastructure across the state.
The projects selected for receipt of PIDP funding include the following:
The DeLong Dock Replacement Project will receive the lion’s share of the funding, taking up nearly half of the total allotment with $50.6 million dedicated to development. The project will replace the DeLong Dock in Whittier, addressing the critical structure’s impending end-of-usable-life expectancy.
The project will install a 1,150-foot sheet pile bulkhead, providing a 2.5-acre of upland staging area. Plans call for building a 512-foot primary dock with modern, energy-absorbing fendering atop a floating dock system designed to mitigate line tending and enhance safety during extreme tidal swings. The city will also replace the existing Dock Manager Building, upgrade utilities and expand moorage.
The City of Kodiak will receive $26.1 million for Phase 2A of the Saint Herman Harbor Recapitalization Project. The facility is in poor condition and will need full restaging to safely and effectively meet the needs of the city’s maritime economy.
Work will predominantly address the core components of the facility, including failing pilings, concrete decking, rotting walers and bullrails and an outdated electrical system. In addition, the project will remedy floats with aging electrical pedestals, fire suppression lines, safety ladders and supply potable waterlines. Plans also call for building a drive-down float “O” on the west side of the harbor accessible by a 20-foot-wide-by-130-foot-long transfer span.
Another $11.3 million will go toward the Local Service Facilities at the Arctic Deep-Draft Port project in Nome. The project will build critical local service facilities to help expand the Port of Nome to support deep-draft port operations.
Plans call for removing the existing causeway spur and building a 1,200-foot armored extension. The work will include building a 600-foot sheet pile dock, fenders, bollards, ladders, a 3-acre working surface and an access road. The project will be built parallel to the upcoming federal General Navigation Feature facility.
USDOT will deliver $6.4 million for the Anchorage-based Stevedore Support Facilities and Landside Operations Readiness project. Included as part of the Port of Alaska Modernization Program, the project will support operational improvements needed to modernize the port’s operations as the state’s principal maritime cargo hub.
The City of Kake will receive $6.3 million for the Kake Marine Cargo Dock Development Project. Once completed, the new cargo dock will provide additional maritime cargo infrastructure for the Southeast Alaska community.
The final $4.4 million will support the Ounalashka Arctic and North Pacific Maritime Hub in Unalaska. In a similar effort to the City of Kake, the project will advance maritime infrastructure that will support commercial fisheries, shipping and maritime operations in the North Pacific and Arctic regions.
Photo by Ollie Craig from Pexels
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