Port Makes Progress on Major Projects
Date: 09/07/2023
The Port’s highest priority continues to be Pier 2 West Rehabilitation. As the site of seafood processors Da Yang Seafoods and Bornstein Seafoods, the loss of the pier would be catastrophic to the region. With estimated construction costs exceeding $26 million, the Port continues to pursue federal and state funding. Earlier this year, the Port was awarded a $1.2 million grant from Business Oregon for preconstruction costs. The Port contracted with Bergerson Construction as its CM/GC (Construction Manager/General Contractor) to ensure that project management efforts continue through the pre-construction tasks of engineering, planning and permitting.
With an aim to minimize costs and maximize returns, the Port is exploring options for combining project elements of the Area of Concern 4 (AOC4) environmental clean-up project with Pier 2 West Rehabilitation. Located in the southeast corner of Slip 2, AOC4 was first identified in 2001 by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). With partial funding from PRPs for the clean-up costs and a Consent Judgment in place outlining the project’s scope, the Port is now able to work on permitting, construction plans and funding strategies with environmental consultant, Maul, Foster, Alongi. As the Pier 2 West Rehabilitation project area lies immediately to the north, there is potential to dovetail these projects and thereby reduce costs and accelerate time frames. In June of 2023, Business Oregon awarded the Port a $25,000 Integrated Planning Grant (IPG) to assist with these efforts. The IPG is intended to help fund the planning and investigation tasks associated with the potential integration of Pier 2 West and AOC4 project elements.
The Port is also evaluating options for expansion of its do-it-yourself boatyard. With recent grant awards from both Northwest Oregon Works and Business Oregon, the Port recently contracted with Maul, Foster & Alongi to develop a multi-phased Boatyard Master Plan. Work on the Master Plan began in August and will include public and stakeholder engagement with a preferred final plan expected to be presented in early 2024.
An update to the Astoria Regional Airport’s Master Plan is also progressing as scheduled with the final plan to be presented in early 2024, As a pre-requisite to FAA grant funding through the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), the plan update is essential to the future development of the airport. The plan will not only include improvements to airport infrastructure, but development options for the Airport Industrial Park, a 26-acre site that is located on prime industrial land. The Port welcomed Scoular Companies as its first AIP tenant in 2022 and continues to pursue opportunities to locate new industries and family-wage jobs in Clatsop County.
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