The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday announced a more than $4 million dollar grant for St. Paul to update one of its barge terminals along the Mississippi River.
The $4.14 million will go toward replacing the 1,316-foot-long Barge Terminal 2 dock wall, which originally was constructed in 1964. Terminal 2 is on the river's south bank, under the Lafayette Bridge.
Improvements will include filling holes and installing a new steel sheet pile wall in front of the existing wall, as well as a new tie-back system.
The Department of Transportation awarded more $241 million for 25 projects to improve port facilities in 19 states and one territory through the U.S. Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program. The grant for Terminal 2 was Minnesota's only 2021 award.
St. Paul Port Authority officials were not available for comment Thursday.
Lee Nelson, president of Terminal 2 tenant Upper River Services, said in a statement that this kind of infrastructure investment is needed across the nation.
"We're investing in a dock wall that was built in 1964 and will be 60 years old by the time the work is complete," Nelson said. "This investment will increase safety and operational efficiencies and possibly provide additional benefits to others in our community as well."
The project is part of the Biden-Harris Plan for America's Ports and Waterways. Grants are intended to strengthen supply chains to meet demand and help address inflation pressures, according to a Transportation Department news release.
"U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains," U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in the release. "These investments in our nation's ports will help support American jobs, efficient and resilient operations, and faster delivery of goods to the American people."
