Corpus Christi cancels plan for container terminal

A planned container facility at the La Quinta Trade Gateway is no longer a viable option due to its proximity to a residential area.    Port of Corpus Christi officials said Wednesday they had determined that a planned container facility at the La Quinta Trade Gateway is no longer a viable option due to its proximity to the North Shore residential community.
   “Container terminal operations typically involve heavy usage of trucks, high profile cranes and on-dock rail operations. Port officials concluded that noise and light from such operations would likely have a potentially negative impact on the adjoining residential areas,” the port said. “As such, port officials are removing the container terminal concept from the La Quinta Trade Gateway master plan.”
   The La Quinta Trade Gateway at Port Corpus Christi is approximately 1,300 acres, located on the La Quinta Ship Channel. Development of the facility was originally envisioned to include a state-of-the-art multipurpose dock and container facility in addition to providing industrial space for such tenants like Gulf Cotton Compress, along with voestalpine Texas, which makes hot briquetted iron.
   “The Port of Corpus Christi is committed to responsible growth,” Port of Corpus Christi Commission Chairman Charles W. Zahn, Jr. said. “Potential effects from increased traffic and industrial noise from a container operation at La Quinta Trade Gateway is not compatible with our values in supporting the quality of life in the adjoining communities. We are committed to the La Quinta Trade Gateway development, and continue to explore other low impact uses for the facility.”
   The channel provides access for mini cape size dry bulk vessels to serve voestalpine’s dry bulk cargo dock that was completed in 2016 and LNG tankers to serve Cheniere Energy’s Corpus Christi Liquefaction, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal that is currently under construction and expected to be in commercial operation by 2019.