Eastport Port Authority officials have begun initial discussions with representatives from the City of Eastport, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Town of Perry about the possibility of constructing a bridge from Perry to Eastport. Noting that the Passamaquoddy tribal government is concerned about increased truck traffic on Route 190 through the Pleasant Point reservation and about the impact of the existing causeway on marine life in Half Moon Cove, Port Director Chris Gardner, at the November 17 meeting of the port authority board, said that during the short-term period there will be more trucks on Route 190 once wood chip shipments begin. For long-term planning, the port authority is considering a bridge to replace part of Route 190, with one possibility being to have it extend from land owned by the tribe on Half Moon Cove to Carlow's Island. The proposal has been submitted to the Federal Highway Administration to get the idea on the department's radar screen.
     "It would benefit all the communities," says Gardner of the proposal, noting that any land acquisition would need to involve willing sellers.
     Gardner says that the port authority will take a slow and methodical approach so that the interests of different communities are addressed. "We recognize that there are so many other stakeholders that need to be consulted with," he says. "In the coming months we will start engaging in those local conversations."
     While the immediate issue would be to provide a new road into Eastport for the truck traffic, Gardner says that the plan could also include bringing the railroad back onto the island. He notes that the rail line would not need to come all the way to the Estes Head terminal and pier, since the grade would be too steep, but it could possibly come to the port authority's land on Broad Cove that was formerly owned by BASF.
      In other port authority business, Gardner said that the breakwater project is now not expected to go out to bid until December, having been delayed from a November date. At the request of the U.S. Coast Guard, the port authority will be engaging Childs Engineering Corporation, which is doing the engineering work for the rebuilding of the breakwater, to incorporate a new fuel system for Coast Guard Station Eastport. The $32,000 engineering cost will be covered by the Coast Guard. Gardner noted that the plan "is a sore point with some businesses in town" that have been supplying fuel, but he noted that the port authority is just acting on the request of its tenant, the Coast Guard. "Time will tell if it gets built," Gardner added.
     The port authority has signed a one-year contract extension with Federal Marine Terminals (FMT), the terminal operator. While the parties had hoped to reach a five-year extension, Gardner says that because of the shipping volume uncertainties, a five-year agreement could not be reached. Gardner also noted that the ship's agent that is employed by FMT may be employed by the port authority next year.
      Concerning the delay in the wood chip shipments to Ireland, Gardner said that there is a good chance that the first shipment will occur before the end of the year. The importing of salt through the port this year is also a possibility, and the shiploader at the port was tried out to be ready for handling bulk cargoes.
     The road project on County Road is progressing, with brush having been cut and test borings completed. The project will go out to bid next spring, with all of the road construction being done next year.
     The port authority's tugboat Captain MacIntyre has been sold for $20,000, but the port authority will have to deliver the tug to Belfast. The buyer will cover the costs for fuel and labor.
     The port authority expects to move into its new office building on December 1.