PROJECTS ON WAY

The Acadiana Gulf of Mexico Access Channel project at the Port of Iberia will have more than $15 million in the bank to keep it on track.

The project would include dredging to deepen the channel to 16 feet, allowing for the fabrication of larger projects at the port necessary to remain competitive in an oil and gas industry working in deep water. 

The money is from an appropriation in House Bill 2 and is designated to help with the planning, construction, rights of way and utility relocations.

The bill still awaits the governor’s signature and Kyle Plotkin, the governor’s press secretary, would only say that Jindal is still reviewing the bill.

Port lawyer Ray Allain, who has been working closely with the Army Corps of Engineers, Shaw Coastal and port staff on the rights of way and utility relocations for the project, said he is not sure the amount appropriated will be sufficient to cover the cost of relocating pipelines and other utilities to prepare the channel for dredging.

He did say the amount gets the port “a long way toward the goal.”

“It’s going to be a very helpful appropriation,” he said. “It shows that the state still supports the project but exactly what it will pay for remains to be seen.”

Allain said a clear cost estimate for the utility relocation project has not been determined and that it depends on several factors including which, if any, pipeline operators are responsible for relocating their own lines.

State Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, said the channel deepening project is one of the best economic projects under way in the region. He said the pace at which projects such as the channel move can be frustrating.

“Sometimes it takes so long to do something so good,” he said. “We just need to continue to keep our eye on the ball because this project is a long, long time coming.”

The project did get more funding than many listed in House Bill 2 and together with several other appropriations made for local projects, represents a large pot of taxpayer money the Teche Area delegation brought home.

“In a tight budget year it’s important to notice how much money the (Teche Area) delegation has brought back to the area,” said Iberia Industrial Development Foundation President Mike Tarantino said. “It certainly shows their commitment to and hard work for this area.”