Kansas DOT approves preliminary engineering of Great Bend shipping facility

Written by Jenifer Nunez, assistant editor

Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) has given the go-ahead for preliminary engineering for a transload shipping center at Great Bend, Kan., which will be built west of Great Bend at the airport.

 

The entities that joined together to craft the development plans include the city of Great Bend, the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development, Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad (K&O) and Kansas Transload Services.

KDOT, which will contribute $3 million for the $6.8-million project, gave approval for preliminary engineering after reviewing the business plan and financial model proposed by the Great Bend group. The consultant HDR will do the preliminary engineering.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to move forward with this transload project as it will provide a boost to the economy in central Kansas. The contribution from KDOT is what made this project possible,” said Great Bend Mayor Mike Allison. “We are confident that K&O Railroad and Kansas Transload Services will develop a top flight transportation hub for Great Bend.”

The state’s $3-million investment in the project will be used for rail improvements. Pat Cedeno, senior vice president of marketing and sales of Watco Companies, which owns K&O Railroad, said the company is excited about the opportunity to work with KDOT, Great Bend and Kansas Transload Services to serve the central region of Kansas through a multimodal transload facility.

“Kansas Transportation Secretary King’s vision created this tremendous opportunity for the Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad to provide car supply and rail service to the facility. We look forward to building new relationships with the community and the customers we will be serving at the facility,” Cedeno said.

Tags: