Port of Wilma: Governor signs heavy haul bill; Wilma rail project complete

Rep. Mary Dye, with Port Commissioner Tom Kammerzell at her right, stands to the right of Gov. Jay Inslee with several representatives as Inslee signs HB 2807. The bill designates portions of Highways 128 and 193 at the Port of Wilma as heavy haul corridors.

Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2807, which provides for a heavy haul route along the Snake River across from Clarkston, March 25, Port of Whitman Commissioner Tom Kammerzell told the Port board at its meeting April 7. The bill was unanimously approved in the state house of representatives and approved by a 46-1 vote in the state senate. Introduced by Rep. Mary Dye of Pomeroy, it allows loads up to 129,000 pounds to be hauled on State Routes 193 and 128 without special permits.

Route 193 runs from the Port of Wilma along the north side of the Snake River to Red Wolf Bridge, and Route 128 runs from the bridge eastbound along the north side of the river to the state line and links with Idaho 95 at the bottom of the Lewiston grade.

HB 2807 requires the state Department of Transportation to designate portions of the highways as a heavy haul industrial corridor for overweight vehicles. Dye noted the route will be helpful for the larger trucks with bigger cargo loads which travel throughout Washington and toward Idaho.

When the bill goes into effect Jan. 1, 2017, vehicles carrying loads of up to 129,000 can carry the load over the road without applying for special permits.

Port Executive Director Joe Poiré said the bill gives businesses at the Port of Wilma an advantage.

“We won't see much of a benefit until Idaho gets their portion finished,” he said, “but it will allow the businesses the opportunity to be more competitive.”

Poiré also reported at the Port meeting last week that the Port of Wilma rail project is now complete.

“All the asphalt's in, it looks really nice,” he said. “That one turned out really smooth.”

The Port of Wilma project replaced rail crossings and added new rail and asphalt to the crossings.

Railworks of Airway Heights completed the project, and the original bid was for about $1.2 million. The project finished under budget, despite additions to the original project which required more railroad ties and repair of cracked joints. Cost was $300,000 under the initial estimate.

“Usually, when we get a really good price, something crazy happens,” Poiré said. “We've got $300,000 we didn't think we were going to have.”

The Port's $1.5 million budget for the project was funded with a $500,000 grant from the Freight Rail Assistance Project and a $500,000 loan from the Freight Rail Investment Bank, as well as $500,000 in Port matching funds. The leftover funding will likely go toward paying off the loan, Poiré said.

“The loan will be easier to pay off now,” he said.

The enhancements and upgrades done at Wilma were completed in preparation for the new CHS Primeland plant, which Poiré said he believes has now been completed. The new plant there is expected to bring in more rail traffic, along with businesses such as Hinrichs, McGregor's Co. and Columbia Grain.

“We're going from 200 to 300 train cars a day to 2,500 to 3,000,” Poiré reported. “We've got our part done for that.”

The final phase in the Wilma project is now on CHS, Poiré said. The company has applied for a crossing, which will take about 45-60 days to process, and will complete the rail to the plant.