ARLINGTON – The Port of Arlington plans to advertise for statements of qualifications by companies interested in operating the barge dock.

Construction has begun on the new dock 10 miles east of Arlington where Willow Creek empties into the Columbia River.

Gene Leverton, a Portland transportation consultant who helps to manage the port, said Bergerson Construction of Astoria mobilized this week and was expected to begin driving piles.

“The Corps of Engineers issued the barge dock construction permit Feb. 21,” he said. “This permit allows for pile driving to begin. Approval by Oregon Department Environmental Quality for the rock fill is pending, and expected shortly.”

A Feb. 14 ground-breaking ceremony for the $1.8 million barge dock was well attended, Leverton said.

“The main reason for building the dock has been receipt of waste for disposal in Arlington,” Leverton said. “Waste products are currently received from several Pacific Northwest states, and barge capability will increase competitiveness of the landfill.”

In other business, Leverton said, a six-month monitoring process has begun on the CLD grain elevator after survey points were established.