Posted on February 13, 2018
By John Guidroz, American Press
The 20-acre west barge basin at the West Calcasieu Port will be dredged to a depth of 12 feet, allowing for the fleeting of barges along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, port officials said.
The port’s board recently awarded the work contract to Hammond-based Coastal Dredging Co. Inc. The company’s $1.33 million bid was the lowest of six received.
Lynn Hohensee, port director, said dredging the basin will help the port fill the growing demand for barge fleeting facilities in Southwest Louisiana. The basin, located on the north shore of the GIWW, can accommodate 75 to 90 barges.
The project calls for dredging about 138,000 cubic yards of spoils and using it to elevate the port’s 39.5-acre spoils reception site.
The long-term goal, Hohensee said, is to elevate the site to about 20 feet above sea level. Doing this, he said, will help turn the area into a hub for business development.
Ninety percent of the construction costs will be paid for through a $1.04 million port priority fund grant awarded by the state Department of Transportation and Development. The port will use internal funding to cover the remaining amount, along with costs related to engineering and permits.
Source: American Press
