Approved Plan for IMT Property on the Portland Waterfront

Craig Morin, of HNTB Corp., Addressed the Planning Board

By Carol McCracken  (Post # 721)

Construction is expected to begin this summer on upgrades to the waterfront property, the Portland International Marine Terminal facility, located at 468 Commercial Street said Paul D. Pottle, Bureau of Project Development for Maine DOT.  The project which includes a new building and site improvements was approved last night by the city’s planning board.

The 14 or so acres was originallyl developed in the 1920s as a deepwater freight facility on the site of a former rail yard.  In the 1970s the site took on its current configuration as the terminal for the Yarmouth Nova Scotia car ferry.  That service ended three years ago.   The property has been improved for container freight operations and has served various special freight and transient berthing functions as needed according to information prepared by city planning staff.

In his presentation to the planning board, Craig Morin, engineer at HNTB Corporation, said that most of the current 28,400 sq. ft. of the existing building would be demolished and replaced with 3,300 sq. ft of new construction.  The existing pier will be expanded to 5,000 sq. ft.

This is a $5,000,000. expansion plan that is expected to increase the facility’s capability to handle and store large shipments of container, and enhance the facility’s ability to handle heavy-lift components for alternative renewable energies.  It’s expected to be completed by next summer.