Posted on February 22, 2022
The Port of Beaumont has started construction on Phase II of its Main Street Terminal 1 project.
The Main Street Terminal 1 project is the largest of 20 in the Port’s 2022 Capital Improvement Plan.
Phase II of the project includes demolition of a failed dock structure and construction of a new state-of-the-art general cargo deck, according to a news release.
The project comes after the Port of Beaumont Board of Commissioners approved a $57 million construction bid — awarded to McCarthy Building Companies — for a project that would increase the port’s general cargo handling capacity by more than 15%.
Funding for the project comes in part from 2017 General Obligation Bonds, a 2019 U.S. Department of Transportation Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant and port revenues.
“This project has been a labor of love,” said Port Director Chris Fisher in the news release. “With more than 10 years invested in engineering the project, optimizing the design, securing grants, and gaining final approvals, it’s incredibly rewarding to see it move forward.”
Two of the goals for the terminal redesign were to make it more sustainable and resilient.
These goals are being accomplished by the use of concrete piles that provide a corrosion resistant foundation for extended design life and resiliency, the release said.
Also, a final concrete topping slab will be constructed using synthetic concrete reinforcing fibers, not traditional welded steel wire mesh which will make the surface corrosion proof.
There will also be a new fender system that includes an energy-absorbing component to reduce loads on the dock.
The new dock will consist of concrete piles, cast-in-place concrete caps and beams, pre-cast concrete deck panels and a concrete topping slab. It’s going to measure 1,200 feet long and 130 feet wide, with a 152-feet wide middle section.
The project is ushering the Port into a new era, said Director of Engineering Brandon Bergeron
“This project represents an evolution in marine construction, as evidenced by the Port’s existing wharves,” he said in the release. “Since the Port if over 100 years old, we have docks constructed of timber, steel and concrete and this project represents the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art advancements in marine engineering design and construction techniques.”
By the third quarter of 2022, the Port anticipates more than $100 million in new projects will be underway, including three more new docks and a new rail interchange track.
“With the additional capacity, we will be able to more fully serve existing customers and welcome new customers,” Fisher said in the release.
The project is expected to be complete by June 2024.
