Duluth begins construction of new intermodal terminal

Great Lakes port expects the first phase of dock reconstruction to be completed by 2016.    Duluth Seaway Port Authority held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for a $17.7 million intermodal terminal construction project.
   The port authority said it was the largest project it has undertaken since construction of the Clure Public Marine Terminal prior to the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959.
   The rebuild and expansion of the 28-acre Dock C&D, which were formerly used for grain elevators, will “put a vacant, underutilized dock back into maritime service after more than 20 years,” the Great Lakes port said, enhancing the Port of Duluth’s intermodal capabilities and expanding its capacity to handle more heavy-lift and project cargo.
   The $17.7 million redevelopment project was funded, with a $10 million TIGER grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), $2.75 million from the Minnesota Port Development Assistance Program; $990,000 from a State of Minnesota’s contamination cleanup grant program, and more than $3.9 million from the Duluth Seaway Port Authority.
   The redevelopment process will include replacing corroded sheet piling and deteriorated wooden dock walls, resurfacing the deck, reinforcing heavy-lift capacity and constructing a new roll-on/roll-off dock. The project also involves dredging adjacent waters for vessel berths, installing road and rail connections, plus adding enhancements for safety and security.
   Port officials expect this first phase of reconstruction to be completed in the fall of 2016.