Baton Rouge port gets grant

The U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $1 million grant to the Port of Greater Baton Rouge to rebuild a rail line at the marine terminal which was damaged by Mississippi River flooding in spring 2011.

The Advocate reports the money was part of a $200 million appropriation Congress made to help communities that received a major disaster designation in fiscal 2011.

Jay Hardman, the port's executive director, said it will take between $2.1 million and $2.5 million to fix the nearly 8,500 feet of railroad track. The port will pay for the remaining costs not covered by the $1 million grant.

Hardman said the project should go out for bid in January or February and the work will take four to six months to complete.