January 11 - The US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) has awarded the first construction contract associated with the long anticipated construction of the La Quinta Channel Extension project.

The project will serve a multi-purpose dock and terminal project to be constructed on the Port of Corpus Christi's 1000 acre La Quinta property site.

The contract was awarded to RLB Contracting, Inc. of Port Lavaca, Texas for USD1,123,400 to construct a 126-acre dredge material placement area on Port of Corpus Christi property in San Patricio County. This contract award is for the first of several construction projects required to complete the USD75 million plan to construct the La Quinta Channel Extension.

Design contracts for the multi-purpose dock and terminal project were awarded by the port in December 2009 to engineering teams lead by Goldston Engineering a CH2M HILL Company and Lockwood, Andrew and Newnam, Inc.

The multi-purpose dock and terminal facility will be designed to handle a wide variety of general cargo including containers, military, wind turbines, steel pipe, and more. The goal is to complete the design and be ready to solicit bids for first phase of construction by the end of 2010.