NEW MADRID COUNTY PORT HARBOR ENLARGED

MARSTON, Mo. -- New Madrid County's Mississippi River port is larger.

Three tows can now pass in the 1,500-foot slackwater harbor at the port off Interstate 55 in the St. Jude Industrial Park near Marston.

"We can have loading facilities on either side of the harbor now," said Timmie Lynn Hunter, who has served as port director since February 1999. "And there will still be room for a barge to pass between them."

The widening project came in under budget and on time. "In fact, it was completed early," said Hunter.

Hunter and New Madrid County Port Authority officials hosted an official dedication at the harbor Thursday morning.

As the crowd gathered for the dedication, an excavator put final touches on the improvements, moving rip-rap along the north slopes.

On hand for the harbor-improvement dedication were more than 75 people, including Gov. Mel Carnahan; U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson; Deputy district engineer of the Memphis District Corps of Engineers, Maj. Michael Malsom; and Mississippi River Commissioner R. D. James.

"The ability to move supplies in and products out is vital to continued economic success in Missouri," said Carnahan. "The improvements at this port should help boost the economy, especially the farm economy in the Bootheel region."

Carnahan, who had attended a breakfast at Delta Center Field Day activities near Portageville, Mo., earlier Thursday, said "research and transportation are both vital issues in agriculture."

Carnahan told the group that Missouri has always had great transportation with its rivers. "With improved ports, the rivers are an even greater benefit to the area," he said.

"It takes a vision to make all this happen," said Emerson. "The people of this area had that vision. They went to state and federal representatives and worked across party lines to get the job done. The port has been vital for jobs and the economy in this area. And it's great that it came in early and under budget."

Hunter said the $1 million project came in at $859,000, with the port's portion of the funding at about $169,000 instead of the expected $188,000.

The project widened the channel by 75 feet. About 135,000 cubic yards of material was taken out of harbor. Rip rap was placed the entire 1,500-foot length of the harbor.

"This makes it more attractive to companies interested in locating on the north side of the harbor opposite the Louis Dreyfus Co., which currently has a rice mill and a loading facility on the south side of the harbor," said Hunter.

Hunter said another company has indicated interest in locating at the port.

The St. Jude and New Madrid Harbor Service provides loading and unloading services at the port, which includes a general cargo dock and a crane for dock customers.

The port, which is lighted for night loading, includes 6i5 acres of industrial sites, all with utility services. Additional acreage is adjacent to the harbor site in the 4,200-acre St. Jude Industrial Park.