Corpus Christi project advances

Corpus Christi project advances    Port Corpus Christi said Friday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded the first construction contract associated with the La Quinta Channel Extension project.
   The $1.1 million contract was awarded to RLB Contracting Inc. of Port Lavaca, Texas, to construct a 126-acre dredge material placement area on Port of Corpus Christi property in San Patricio County. This contract award is for the first of several construction projects required to complete the $75 million plan to construct the La Quinta Channel Extension. The channel will serve the port’s 1,000-acre La Quinta property site which the La Quinta channel extension will serve.
   Last month the port’s commission said it would move ahead with development of the La Quinta Trade Gateway project, a multipurpose facility designed to handle a range of general cargo including containers, military cargo, wind turbines and steel pipe. In December the commission approved an agreement with Goldston Engineering, a CH2M HILL company, to design the water-side portion of the La Quinta project, which includes the dock and the slip in the channel. Goldston will provide preliminary engineering for the projected full build-out of three berths at the facility and final design of the first berth and slip.