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Ephrata road project sees funding

by Brad W. Gary<br>Herald Staff Writer
| March 24, 2006 8:00 PM

New port work to begin this year

EPHRATA — The road in to Mike Wren's place of business has discouraged some from moving in, but financial help from a variety of sources is now leading the way to a much-needed detour.

Wren is the manager at the Port of Ephrata, and he knows industrial businesses don't want to drive through school and residential zones to enter the port. The port's entrance should change next year, when a two and a quarter mile roadway spur is constructed to connect Highway 282 and Road A, easing the pressure on truck drivers who currently traverse S.E. Boulevard or Division Street.

The Port of Ephrata is scheduled to receive $385,000 from the state's $33 million supplemental transportation budget to pay for a new connector roadway that will support transport of heavy equipment and cargo. The money was secured, in part, after Wren's request to Moses Lake legislators state Sen. Joyce Mulliken and state Rep. Janea Holmquist.

"It's quite a team effort to put all this together," Wren said.

The $700,000 project is about $90,000 short of its goal right now, Wren said, with funding previously provided from the city of Ephrata and Grant County. Wren said the port is in the process of securing federal funding through grants as well.

When that road goes through, it will also open up 200 acres of the port's southern property for industrial development.

"I think it's not just a pet project, I think it's an important project for developments that are kicking up here," Wren said.

Mulliken said the issue was a safety issue for the port.

"I see this road project as a common-sense proposal that would give needed access to port tenants and improve safety and traffic flow through those local neighborhoods," said Holmquist.

The port is also working to have rehabilitation done on its rail, with work on it's runways on the horizon as well. Wren said he hopes to have trucks working on the port's runway project drive onto port property on its new road, and have those trucks stay out of the city.

Wren has heard stories of missed opportunities from people like Grant County Economic Development Council Executive Director Terry Brewer, who has said some companies won't even consider a move to the Port of Ephrata because of the school zone they have to traverse to get to it.

Those issues, and the potential expansion of current tenant Katana Industries, is leading the port to make sure they can sustain that load long term with these infrastructure improvements. Katana is expected to break ground on an expansion this spring.

"We have enough to start the road project this year," Wren said of funding, adding he hopes to begin port runway work next year and begin rail improvements in 2008. The port is estimating rehabilitation of its one and a half mile rail spur at approximately $675,000.

Nearby ports in recent months have made announcements about biodiesel plants and Yahoo among others, and with the infrastructure in place, Ephrata port officials feel they could too be in the competition for the eastern Washington port space which is increasingly in demand.

Wren said it's all about timing. Growth is beginning to take root all over Grant County, and Wren said if they are prepared they can be a part of that growth.

"These are some infrastructure investments we need to make, not just for us but as the state as a whole," Wren said.