PRESS RELEASE--November 21, 2002

Longview, Washington - The Lower Columbia Contractors Association has presented the Port of Longview with the 2002 Construction Excellence Award for its Fibre Way Grade Separation project. The Port, Ostrander Rock and Construction, general contractor, and HNTB, designer, were presented with the award at the association’s annual construction awards banquet.

 The grade separation is the first phase of the Port’s Industrial Rail Corridor, a 1.5 mile rail improvement project providing unimpeded rail access to trains serving the Port’s industrial park. Construction of the grade separation began in July 2001. It was officially dedicated  in March 2002. The $6.7 million project was funded through a combination of federal, state, local and port funds.

 Design engineers incorporated lightweight plastic geofoam, a type of styrofoam, into the grade separation project, lowering costs and shortening construction time. Geofoam is relatively new to the Cowlitz County area, but has been successfully used in roadway projects throughout the country.

 The Industrial Rail Corridor is scheduled for completion in early fall 2003. The Port recently received a $2 million grant from Cowlitz County for the project. Funds are made possible through a sales tax rebate program the legislature created in 1997. Total cost of the Industrial Rail Corridor is $20 million. Once completed it will provide a strategic transportation connection to the Port’s industrial park.

For further information regarding information contained in this press release contact Communications/Public Affairs, 360-425-3305.