Aubertine: Oswego Port To Receive $1.75 Million

Submitted by State Sen. Darrel Aubertine (D-Cape Vincent)

OSWEGO, NY – State Sen. Darrel J. Aubertine announced that the state will invest $1.75 million in the Port of Oswego Authority toward a $2.25 million project to rehabilitate and reconstruct a section of the pier and install a new fender system.

“This is a key investment in our economic future for Oswego County to help to bring more goods in and out of the Port and create jobs,” Sen. Aubertine said. “Investing in our infrastructure is fundamental to creating jobs and growing our economy. I want to thank Jonathan Daniels and the Port Authority board for all that they are doing to attract and retain jobs, the DOT for recognizing the importance of this project and Governor Paterson for moving this funding now when it is needed.”

The project will restore the quay wall of the West Terminal and allow for the installation of a new fender system.

Without the pier restoration, the dock will eventually become unusable for the freighters that call the Port’s bulk terminal.

This project is critical to the continuation of a significant portion of the business operations at the Port of Oswego.

The pier presently supports two tenants and also serves as a storage area for salt and other bulk products.

The port has been forced to engage in emergency repairs to ensure secure vessel tie down operations as the remaining cleats and bollards were not sufficient to safely secure the vessels.

Loss of use of the terminal would mean a reduction of more than 300,000 tons annually of cargo throughput, or 30 percent of total Port cargo.

“It’s important that we continue to invest in the critical infrastructure of the Port of Oswego to insure the stability of the businesses that utilize the West Terminal facility,” said Port Executive Director Jonathan Daniels. “Senator Aubertine has been a stalwart in supporting future growth at the port, and his work along with the support of the governor’s office and the Department of Transportation will allow for retention and creation of employment opportunities for Central New York.”

This grant is part of a $42.1 million investment by New York State awarded from the $2.9 billion Renew and Rebuild New York Transportation Bond Act of 2005 approved by voters and the Governor’s Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program.

Also in the 48th District of Oswego, Jefferson and part of St. Lawrence counties, which the senator represents, the state will invest $1.2 million in the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority’s $1.3 million project to build new access road that will enable the port to handle overweight and over-dimensional cargo.

An additional $2.7 million will be awarded to the New York & Ogdensburg Railway Co. to replace ties and rail from Lisbon to Norwood and begin the effort to rehabilitate two bridges in Madrid and Norwood.

“These investments will grow our economy, create new jobs and protect the ones we have,” Aubertine said. “This is all part of working together to make sure we have the opportunities we need here in Central New York and the North Country.”

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