The Port of Ridgefield this week advanced a step closer to a future where fast-moving freight trains will pose little danger to motorists going in and out of the port’s waterfront property.
The proposed $12.5 million Pioneer Street rail overpass project received nearly $1 million in new federal funding, part of a $447 billion bill signed by President Barack Obama this week. Port officials say the money will cover about 90 percent of the engineering costs for the project, expected to be under construction by 2012.
That would coincide somewhat with the port’s plans to finish cleaning up its contaminated waterfront off Lake River, which is anticipated in three to five years. The site was contaminated by chemicals from the now-defunct Pacific Wood Treating plant.
After the cleanup, port officials plan to redevelop the waterfront as a mixed-use commercial development accessible via the Pioneer Street rail overpass.
o Previously: In 2007, the port's three-member board of commissioners approved the project to extend the west end of Pioneer Street as a bridge to carry traffic, bicycles and pedestrians over the railroad tracks. The project would eliminate two dangerous rail crossings and provide access to the port's Lake River industrial site and the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.
o What's new: Port leaders learned the project received nearly $1 million in federal funding this week.
o What's next: The funding will be used to pay for about 90 percent of the cost of engineering the project, expected to break ground in 2012.
The project would be built on the west end of Pioneer Street to carry traffic over the BNSF railroad tracks, which run in a north-south direction on the west edge of downtown Ridgefield.
The overpass will replace two treacherous street-level crossings at Division and Mill streets, said Randy Mueller, the port’s business development director.
o Previously: In 2007, the port’s three-member board of commissioners approved the project to extend the west end of Pioneer Street as a bridge to carry traffic, bicycles and pedestrians over the railroad tracks. The project would eliminate two dangerous rail crossings and provide access to the port’s Lake River industrial site and the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge.
o What’s new: Port leaders learned the project received nearly $1 million in federal funding this week.
o What’s next: The funding will be used to pay for about 90 percent of the cost of engineering the project, expected to break ground in 2012.
“Mill Street is the fifth-most dangerous rail crossing in the state,” he said.
Perched in the center of Mill Street’s steep grade, the crossing leads to the port’s boat launch on Lake River Road. Mueller said the crossing annually accommodates hundreds of vehicles pulling recreational boats on trailers and more than 60 trains a day.
The crossings at Division and Mill streets will be closed when the rail overpass opens, Mueller said.
He said the port has committed $2 million toward the project and the city of Ridgefield has earmarked $1.2 million for the work. BNSF has also indicated that it would pay for about 5 percent of the project, or approximately $600,000.
The port expects to apply for additional state and federal funding once the engineering work is complete.
