Port Of Catoosa's Main Dock To Expand Thanks To Federal Grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Port of Catoosa a $6.4 million TIGER grant for rehabilitation at the port's main dock.

Senator Jim Inhofe in making the announcement says the grant will pay for about 48-percent of the project.

"The Port of Catoosa is a major economic gateway. Barge traffic delivers $1.3 million of commerce to Oklahoma each day, and this grant will provide a portion of the funding to make important improvements while expanding the Port of Catoosa's main dock," said Senator Jim Inhofe.

Inhofe says the project will double the main dock's capacity and add a second crane.

"The rehabilitation of the Main Dock at the Port will generate substantial, long-term benefits to the nation and the region through significantly increasing capacity the Port's overall capacity by creating a state-of-the-art cargo handling facility within the current main dock footprint," said David Page, Chairman of the City of Tulsa-Rogers County Port Authority. "The Tiger Grant will also provide other benefits, including further enhancing the Port's existing status as an international logistics center."

With the improvements, Port officials say they will be able to hand more bulk cargo per year.

5/17/2012 Related Story: Oklahoma's Port Of Catoosa Sets New Shipping Record