The last time I was near the intermodal center’s construction site was in April 2021.
From time to time someone asks about the cause of the delay in completion of the truck-to-train reloading center in Millersburg that was supposed to be open by now. It’s because of a pipeline.
Except for a length of track connecting the north end of the center to the Union Pacific mainline, construction of the Mid-Valley Intermodal Center or MVIC is complete. But that link is crucial. Without it the center can’t be used.
Last week I got a status report from Don Waddell, executive director of the Linn Economic Development Group, which is managing the project:
“The projected start date of the intermodal center is late September 2022,” Waddell wrote in an email. “Construction is basically complete, but we are waiting for Kinder Morgan to finish protection of their diesel/gasoline pipeline.”
Kinder Morgan is a Houston-based energy company, and the pipeline at issue is the company’s underground line that sends petroleum products from the Portland area to Eugene. On its way, it runs through Millersburg, then crosses to the other side of the freeway and runs through Albany’s residential subdivisions east of I-5.
Evidently it also runs underneath the northern end of the reloading center, and Kinder Morgan would not allow the new track to be built until the pipeline underneath it is protected or strengthened.
“Once the pipeline protection is complete, we will finish laying the final section of rail needed to open MVIC,” Waddell wrote. “We are working hard with KM and the Union Pacific railroad to open the MVIC as soon as possible.”
The reloading center was the idea of then state Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany. The legislature authorized a $23 million grant toward the project, intended to reduce freeway truck traffic and circumvent shipping delays at the Port of Portland.
The center has been built on part of the land formerly occupied by the paper mill of Western Kraft, Willamette Industries, and finally International Paper. The mill closed more than 10 years ago and eventually was demolished.
Linn County contributed a substantial sum toward the reloading effort because, among other things, it would help Linn County farmers who ship products overseas.
Total cost of the project has been about $30 million, according to John Pascone, president of the Albany-Millersburg Economic Development Corp.
I haven’t been out to the site for more than a year, but I hope to take a tour of it soon — before it starts operating this fall. (hh)
This aerial is from the website of the intermodal center nearing completion in Millersburg.
New target for reloading center: September
The last time I was near the intermodal center’s construction site was in April 2021.
From time to time someone asks about the cause of the delay in completion of the truck-to-train reloading center in Millersburg that was supposed to be open by now. It’s because of a pipeline.
Except for a length of track connecting the north end of the center to the Union Pacific mainline, construction of the Mid-Valley Intermodal Center or MVIC is complete. But that link is crucial. Without it the center can’t be used.
Last week I got a status report from Don Waddell, executive director of the Linn Economic Development Group, which is managing the project:
“The projected start date of the intermodal center is late September 2022,” Waddell wrote in an email. “Construction is basically complete, but we are waiting for Kinder Morgan to finish protection of their diesel/gasoline pipeline.”
Kinder Morgan is a Houston-based energy company, and the pipeline at issue is the company’s underground line that sends petroleum products from the Portland area to Eugene. On its way, it runs through Millersburg, then crosses to the other side of the freeway and runs through Albany’s residential subdivisions east of I-5.
Evidently it also runs underneath the northern end of the reloading center, and Kinder Morgan would not allow the new track to be built until the pipeline underneath it is protected or strengthened.
“Once the pipeline protection is complete, we will finish laying the final section of rail needed to open MVIC,” Waddell wrote. “We are working hard with KM and the Union Pacific railroad to open the MVIC as soon as possible.”
The reloading center was the idea of then state Rep. Andy Olson, R-Albany. The legislature authorized a $23 million grant toward the project, intended to reduce freeway truck traffic and circumvent shipping delays at the Port of Portland.
The center has been built on part of the land formerly occupied by the paper mill of Western Kraft, Willamette Industries, and finally International Paper. The mill closed more than 10 years ago and eventually was demolished.
Linn County contributed a substantial sum toward the reloading effort because, among other things, it would help Linn County farmers who ship products overseas.
Total cost of the project has been about $30 million, according to John Pascone, president of the Albany-Millersburg Economic Development Corp.
I haven’t been out to the site for more than a year, but I hope to take a tour of it soon — before it starts operating this fall. (hh)
This aerial is from the website of the intermodal center nearing completion in Millersburg.
Tags: Kinder Morgan, Mid-Valley Intermodal Center, Millersburg reloading, petroleum products, pipeline, Union Pacific