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Lewis County Port Authority Conceptual Site Plan
Project Summary
The Lewis County Port Authority (LCPA) selected Hanson to create a conceptual site plan for the potential development of a 520-acre riverfront site it was considering acquiring for the development of its second port location. Hanson conceived the plan based on known and anticipated market information provided by the LCPA, as well as Hanson’s inland river industry knowledge and research.
Hanson designed the first phase of site development to accommodate commodities identified as most likely to be handled at the site, specifically agricultural dry bulk, road salt, steel and aggregates. The plan also included a new access road to the site, relocation of an existing county road and additional roadways needed for efficient internal site circulation. Significant rail infrastructure consisted of a rail siding to connect to the BNSF mainline and an 8,000-foot rail loop to accommodate unit trains.
The second phase was designed to prepare additional portions of the site for development, including a rail yard to accommodate about 135 rail cars and a grade-separated rail crossing to improve vehicular access to the portions of the site between the Mississippi River and the BNSF tracks. Parts of the site were designated for future development as business opportunities arise, including areas proposed for industrial rail development. The conceptual site plan was created to allow the development of plan components over time, based on funding availability and/or business opportunities.
Hanson provided opinions of probable cost for both phases of development, as well as a barge fleeting analysis that identified nearby potential fleeting sites that could accommodate more than 150 barges.
As part of the project, Hanson developed 3D renderings of both project phases in the form of video “tours” through the site.
After completion of the conceptual site plan and documentation, the LCPA requested that Hanson conduct a topographic survey of the site to advance the project and prepare for engineering design.