POV-P16-trench100612The trench project continues to move forward with Hamilton Construction having driven roughly 200 of the 275 steel “H” piles in the project. These piles, which are driven into the ground to depths ranging from 75 to over 115 feet, will comprise the foundation for a structure that will support a new rail line entrance into the port. The trench project focuses primarily on the pile foundation, while the structure and rail improvements are planned to be included in later projects. The final piles and other trench project related work is expected to be complete by the end of March 2013.

The new rail entrance will be located adjacent to Lafarge North America and will bring a rail line into the port that will travel below the BNSF and Union Pacific Railroad’s north/south mainline on the Columbia River Rail Bridge. This configuration along the banks of the river will prevent port-bound rail from blocking the north/south rail line, while increasing the efficiency of rail movement into and out of the port. Construction began on this portion of the overall project in August 2012 and the new rail configuration is expected to be complete in 2015.