June 15 - Further to our news item of April 28, reports in the local media suggest that the Port of Albany has secured USD5 million in federal stimulus funding to pay for the next phase of a wharf replacement project.

Troy construction company C.D. Perry & Sons is replacing wooden docks at the port with steel and concrete. The first phase, made possible by USD6.5 million in state funding, consisted of replacing 150 m of dock on the Hudson River.

The second phase a further 95 m and both projects include the addition of new rail lines to connect the port to the CSX and Canadian Pacific rail lines.

It is expected that the new wharf will be completed in October 2011, allowing the port to better handle more heavy lift cargoes such as large wind turbines manufactured by GEC.