Kentucky Awards $5.7M to Boost Multimodal Riverport Freight
announced $5.7 million in state grants awarded to 15 public riverport projects to increase multimodal freight handling.
“This investment is about more than replacing outdated equipment, paving roads and upgrading ports,” said Beshear. “It’s about driving industry growth, creating good-paying jobs and keeping Kentucky’s transportation network ahead of the curve.”
Kentucky awarded multiple project grants to some of its 10 public riverports, of which seven are operating ports and three are in development. The riverports are vital to Kentucky’s intermodal freight transportation network, a link that connects to the Great Lakes as well as the deep-draft ports of New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., for exports.
Beshear’s latest riverport funding is contained within a two-year state allocation of $15 million for the Kentucky Public Riverport Construction and Maintenance grant. The governor also awarded Kentucky Riverport Improvement Program grants.
The largest grant allocation of $5 million was authorized for eight Kentucky Public Riverport Construction and Maintenance Awards ranging from $750,000 to $268,100.
Receiving $750,000 are:
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ERIDA will use state funds for its $1.49 million project to install three mooring dolphins within the natural bay in Eddyville. The port handles barge, truck and ground storage commodities. Its main business involves grain and fertilizer, dry and liquid.
“The mooring dolphins will provide efficient access for the movement of barge traffic without delaying current operations at the port and enable the port to double its current capacity of 12 barges daily at peak to potentially 24 barges a day,” according to ERIDA’s grant application.
Owensboro Riverport Authority’s grant will go toward its $1 million Warehouse 10 project to add a new loadout area roof on a warehouse and other infrastructure to ensure the port can provide bulk and break-bulk storage.(Owensboro Riverport Authority)
In May, ERIDA received federal permission for its intermodal connector route to be included within the National Highway System. Port officials sought this designation since it will enable future government grants, improve access for freight/logistics providers and boost regional commerce. The riverport is located 2 miles from U.S. Route 62 near interstates 69 and 24 in western Kentucky.
Along the Ohio River, the Henderson County Riverport Authority will spend its grant to pay for part of a $2 million project for electric material handlers. Aging equipment is being replaced by new 15,500-, 12,000- and 9,000-pound forklifts. The riverport has four barge positions and four warehouses totaling 60,000 square feet. Its cargo includes grain, fertilizer, lumber, zinc, aluminum fluoride, scrap metal and wire rod coils.
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Owensboro Riverport Authority’s grant will go toward its $1 million Warehouse 10 project to add a new loadout area roof on a warehouse and other infrastructure to ensure the port can provide bulk and break-bulk storage. The primary loads handled there are aluminum, steel, copper, magnesium, zinc, grain, fertilizer, bulk commodities, heavy-lift project cargo and scrap steel.
The state grant will pay the entire cost of the PMCRA project to inspect and repair nine barge cells along general cargo and bulk commodity berths in the Tennessee River. PMCRA is a major transshipper of bulk commodities for 14 western counties in the state. It also handles shipments to Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee.
Kentucky’s second group of lower-value riverport grants totaling $500,000 went to eight projects. The funds were derived from state Riverport Improvement Program awards. The grants varied from $27,413 for a 12,000-pound forklift, $28,240 for a 48-foot flatbed trailer project and nearly $244,400 to stabilize and put concrete on a bulk loadout dock.
“Kentucky’s riverports move billions in freight each year,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said of grants. “With this investment, we’re reinforcing our position as a central logistics hub for the nation.”
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