“This is an important achievement for the Port. The extension of the La Quinta Channel is a major step forward towards the development of the La Quinta Trade Gateway Multipurpose facility, one of the most important diversification projects of the Port,” said Mike Carrell, Port Commission Chairman. “The efforts of our U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn along with our new Congressman Blake Farenthold and Congressman Henry Cuellar to secure US Army COE funding for the Port of Corpus Christi’s La Quinta Channel extension is a sign of their commitment to South Texas. They realize the economic benefits the project will bring to the region and Texas,” said John LaRue, Executive Director. “In addition, the USACE has worked closely with the port to ensure adequate funding to support our efforts to increase U.S. exports.” The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA), currently the fifth largest port in the United States in terms of total tonnage traded, is seeking needed channel improvements to the Corpus Christi Ship Channel (CCSC) system. The project for navigation and ecosystem restoration, Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Texas (Project), was authorized by Section 1001(40) of WRDA 2007. The Project includes the following navigation and ecosystem restoration elements:
– Extending La Quinta Ship Cahnnel approximately 1.4 miles at -41′ MLT.
– Constructing ecosystem restoration features to protect endangered species, wetlands and seagrass
La Quinta Channel Extension:
Extending the La Quinta Ship Channel will allow benefits to be achieved while enhancing the economy of the region by providing deep channel access to the Port’s proposed multipurpose/container facility. The Ecosystem Restoration component to be constructed near Ingleside-on-Bay will consist of an offshore rock breakwater and shore protection and will protect and enhance approximately 40 acres of sea grass habitat. In addition, the improvements include the construction of approximately 200 acres of shallow water habitat created by the beneficial use of dredged material.
Construction contracts for the La Quinta Channel Extension and the Ecosystem Restoration will be awarded before the end of the FY 11, in September 2011. The features are projected to cost $74 million, with a cost share of with approximately $15 million by the Port and $59 million by the Federal government. The initial phase of terminal construction and operations will contribute to job creation and economic recovery to our region. The Port’s landside associated project will create thousands of jobs. This navigation improvement and associated development would provide some relief for the thousands of jobs affected by the base closure at Naval Station Ingleside, and generate potentially billions in business revenue. Extending La Quinta will provide support to the development at La Quinta Terminal as well as TPCO American Corp. Steel Pipe mill in Gregory, Texas, the Cheniere Energy’s proposed gas processing plant, and the Gulf Cotton Compress Coop.
La Quinta Trade Gateway Terminal (Project) is a major component of the Port of Corpus Christi Authority’s (Port) long-term development plan. Located on a 1,100-acre greenfield site on the north side of Corpus Christi Bay, when completed, this fully permitted project will provide a state-of-the-art multi-purpose dock and container facility. Project features consist of the Federal extension of the 45′ deep La Quinta Ship Channel, construction of a 3800′ long, three (3) berth ship dock with nine ship-to-shore cranes, 180 acres of container/cargo storage yard, an intermodal rail yard, and over 400 acres for on-site distribution and warehouse centers. The facility will have the capacity to handle approx. 1 million TEU annually. The Project is sited adjacent to US 181/IH 37 and is currently served by on-site Class 1 rail.
