THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION is funding dock improvements in Alpena, Mich. as part of its recent grants to America’s ports. The nearly $3.8 million grant is part of a 25-project, $241 million Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) offered by the U. S. Maritime Administration. The funding spans 19 states and one territory.

“U.S. maritime ports play a critical role in our supply chains,” says secretary of transportation Pete Buttigieg. “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.”

With grant recipients announced in late December, the 2021 PIDP provided industry funding for a third year.

The City of Alpena is partnering with LafargeHolcim in Alpena to upgrade and modernize the company’s port and landside shipping facilities to meet the increasing demand for the plant’s construction products. Project improvements include berth dredging to increase water depths within the port basin to satisfy larger vessels, stone dock demolition to increase the overall area for vessels to access the site, new mooring dolphins, the addition of a roof for a storage building, demolition of a storage building and maritime security upgrades.

“Concrete is the second most used product in the world next to water,” says Jeff Scott, Alpena plant manager. In addition to its use in the development of the roads we travel to visit family, go to work and enjoy Michigan’s natural treasures, our cement is the basic material in housing, schools and our hospitals.

Other ports within the Great Lakes/Seaway region receiving 2021 PIDP grants are:

CLEVELAND, OHIO
Port of Cleveland Comprehensive Planning Study Project (awarded $3 million)
The project will conduct a harbor-wide and regional planning study for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority to address cargo handling, environmental and economic development needs and regional planning goals. The study will include six components: 1) a market analysis, 2) a terminal capacity analysis, 3) an intermodal connection assessment, 4) a plan for port de-carbonization, 5) a coastal resilience plan and 6) a regional-level cargo capability study.

MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN
Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Improving Efficiency (awarded $1.6 million)
The project will improve critical port infrastructure, dredge encroaching sediment to protect port infrastructure and deposit dredge materials onshore to enhance coastal restoration and protect road infrastructure at the Port of Marquette.

SUPERIOR, WISCONSIN
Infrastructure Improvements Project (awarded $8.4 million)
The project will fund repairs to an unused facility in the Port of Superior. The project will also fund construction of a new sheet pile retaining wall, placement of tremie concrete behind the new wall to create a load-bearing surface and installation of a concrete cap atop the new wall. Improvements also include rail and road work, a stormwater management system, utilities, a shop and office building and dredging.