The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has allocated $115.4 million to the state of Alaska to bolster and reinforce port infrastructure.
Awarded through the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the funding will directly support seven high-priority projects across Alaska’s port system. MARAD will deliver the funds using the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) as the vehicle to enhance safety, efficiency and reliability of goods movement throughout the state’s various ports.
The municipality of Skagway will receive the largest award totaling $38.6 million for the Port of Skagway Industrial Dock Redevelopment Project. Plans include building an industrial dock with an integrated fuel header, a removable roll-on/roll-off freight transfer ramp and power for tugboats. Additional work will involve demolishing and removing creosote-treated timber docks, old fuel lines and headers and a mining ore conveyor building. The port will implement various other utilities and civil upgrades as part of the project.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (Alaska DOT&PF) will use its $34 million share for the Port Mackenzie Multimodal Port Expansion initiative. The project calls for building a 110-acre cargo laydown area. The department will supplement the main work by completing a rail spur and rail loop, improving a barge dock and heavy lift, building a warehouse, utilities, communication, lighting and security measures.
The Alaska Railroad Corporation (ARRC) will receive $20.4 million to advance the Port of Whittier Operational Efficiency Whittier Project. The project vision calls for upgrading the railroad tunnel connecting the port to the ARRC mainline track. The corporation will expand tunnel clearance to permit double stack container operations and buy 30 railcars for the container service.
The city of Homer will spend $11.2 million on the Homer Port Coastal Freight Project. With funding in tow, the city will replace a float system at its port.
The municipality of Anchorage will receive $4.7 million for the Petroleum Terminal Replacement Planning Project. While no construction will take place during this stage, the project will conduct engineering studies and advance design to replace the existing petroleum terminal.
The city of Whitter will use $4.1 million to complete planning and design for the Delong Dock Replacement Project. This stage will complete the final plans for a port facility replacing existing, dilapidated infrastructure.
The final $2.4 million will go to the city of Chevak’s Cev’aq River Marine Barge Landing Facility project. The city will advance planning and design for the barge landing facility. The funding will also support a feasibility study and completion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review.
Photo by Cecil Sanders, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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