Gov. Gregoire signs bill for port or Tacoma heavy haul corridor

Gov. Gregoire signs bill for port or Tacoma heavy haul corridor    The port of Tacoma said that Gov. Christine Gregoire Monday signed House Bill 1181, allowing the completion of the heavy haul industrial corridor that will allow companies to legally “transload” cargo on designated roads in the port.
   House Bill 1181 adds State Route 509 to the existing corridor.
   Prior to the bill’s passing, vehicles used by companies that “transload” cargo from rail boxcars into sealed ocean-going containers for truck haulage to marine terminals sometimes exceeded legal axle weight restrictions, the port said.
   Through a permitting process for the corridor qualified loads can now be legally transported from the transloader to a marine terminal at a distance of generally less than two miles, said Timothy J. Farrell, the port of Tacoma’s executive director.
   Companies wishing to obtain a permit application for the heavy haul industrial corridor have to contact the Washington State Department of Transportation.