Kentucky has a logistics diamond in the rough. The Bluegrass State’s Owensboro Riverport stands out as a twinkling transport hub for both domestic and international channels.
Owensboro is Kentucky’s largest inland port and facilitates a fair share of cargo distribution across the U.S. Midwest and South markets.
Nestled on 340 acres along the Ohio River, the riverport’s importance to the state has not gone unnoticed.
Nearby roadways to the port will be widened, improving traffic flow
In an ensemble that included Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, state officials have recently broken ground on a $30 million highway expansion project for Owensboro.
The project will widen a two-mile stretch on Kentucky Route 331, a state highway, and another road that connects from it to the port’s facilities. The goal is to ease congestion and improve traffic flow, while supporting the economic growth the port’s potential wields.
Despite increased traffic over the years, Owensboro has seen little improvement to nearby highways or infrastructure since the port opened in 1976.
So, when state officials drove their shovels into the soil, the formal groundbreaking ritual signified a purposeful step forward, together in cooperation with Owensboro’s port authority.
A mix of federal, state, and local funding
Of the $30 million pumped into the project, Kentucky chipped in half—$15.3 million. The rest of the funding came from federal and local grants, including $11.5 million from the U.S. DOT and $3.2 million locally.
Rinaldo Road, the short stretch that connects to the port, is owned by Owensboro Port Authority and will be widened to three lanes at its entrance from Kentucky Route 331 to the rail load out.
KY 331 will also receive a center turn lane, an addition that will sift out turning traffic into the port away from the highway’s general motorists. From a safety standpoint, this extra lane is crucial as traffic flow will be less stilted and antsy vehicles won’t have to make questionable passing maneuvers if turning big rig has to yield for some time.
Other KY riverports are receiving funding
Kentucky state officials also unveiled that $500,000 in state grants were being awarded not just to Owensboro, but other notable riverports across the Bluegrass State.
A vital hub for the agriculture industry, Eddyville Riverport received $184,000 to buy an excavator for material loading and unloading, while also aiding in the cause to expand operations.
Meanwhile, the Paducah-McCracken Country Riverport is set to pocket $30,510 to fund a replacement of two deteriorated entryways to improve storage yard access.
Final Thoughts
Speaking on the project, Owensboro Riverport’s president Brain Wright: “The Owensboro Riverport Authority Board is excited to see this ‘last mile’ connector of Interstate to river/rail come to fruition for our community and the riverport.”
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding this topic or any others in domestic logistics. In addition, stay up to date with weekly headlines from both trucking and rail via our Road Map newsletter.
Blog cover photo courtesy of Owensboro Riverport Authority’s Facebook page.
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