June 30, 2010
Wednesday

(SitNews) Ketchikan, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) purchased 30 acres of property at Ketchikan's Ward Cove, commonly known as the veneer mill/sawmill, for use by the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS).

"Acquiring this land will provide for AMHS' future growth and will be used to consolidate the ferry system's warehouse, headquarters building, working berth and other building spaces," said DOT&PF Commissioner Leo von Scheben.

According to Jim Beedle, DOT&PF's deputy commissioner of marine operations, proximity to the Ketchikan-based Alaska Ship and Dry Dock will also be advantageous for the AMHS where most maintenance is performed for the system's fleet.

DOT&PF paid $2.64 million to the Ketchikan Gateway Borough for the property including the former Gateway Forest Products veneer warehouse, and 9.5 acres of uplands near the warehouse and 20.5 acres of adjacent tidelands.

In addition to its plan to consolidate its main warehouses at the Ward Cove location, Beedle said the AMHS will soon begin the process of choosing a location on the property where it will begin designing a new headquarters building.

The purchase does not include the former Ketchikan Pulp Company docks or its former administration building the borough is currently leasing to the AMHS.

The Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF) and Ketchikan officials held a ceremony this morning in Ketchikan at the Ward Cove veneer mill to complete the Ward Cove property transfer purchased by the state on June 18th.

Source of News:

Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF)
www.dot.state.ak.us

 

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