Airway Heights firm lands port rail spur job

The Port of Whitman County awarded a contract on one of two new rail spur projects on Tuesday.

Railworks Track System of Airway Heights was awarded the rail spur project at the Port of Wilma. The company’s bid was $518,142, according to Debbie Snell, port properties and development manager.

Three bids were received for the project, including the bid from Railworks Track Systems. Balfour Beatty submitted a bid of $985,166 and H&H Engineering Construction bid $566,027.

The spur segment will tie into the Watco main railroad line at the Port of Wilma that will service McGregor’s new location at the port property.

Snell said it will run from the main line south to McGregor’s and run along the north end of the McGregor lots.

Construction could begin late this summer or early fall and should take about 60 days, Snell said.

The second rail spur project for the port is at Central Ferry. Three bids also were received for that project but the port has not awarded it. Snell said she expects the port to award the project later this week.

The McGregor Co. signed a 30-year lease with the port in January to build a fertilizer storage and distribution complex at the Port of Wilma. The complex will be on 15 acres.

McGregor’s is building a dry fertilizer storage building with blend plant and new liquid fertilizer storage tanks. Plans also include office and shop buildings, blend tanks, liquid fertilizer truck load out, new paved access roads and a new truck scale.

The port and McGregor’s will coordinate in the rail spur construction.

McGregor’s long range plans include additional new rail spurs and possible barge transportation along with additional storage tanks depending on demand and market conditions.