The community will start noticing significant changes in Paducah’s riverfront as crews begin the construction of the riverboat excursion pier as part of the Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project (BUILD grant project). Earlier this summer, crews mobilized equipment, removed old infrastructure to prepare the site for the new pier and its associated walkways, anchored a work barge along with its crane and pile-driving hammer, and installed an access dock for construction personnel. Now, C.J. Mahan, a subcontractor for Jim Smith contracting, is ready to begin the pier’s construction.
“This is a transformational project for Paducah’s riverfront,” Mayor George Bray said, “Over the next few months, the community will be able to see significant progress with the installation of the support system for the riverboat excursion pier. I ask for everyone’s patience since this project will be noisy at times as the piles are driven into the riverbank. Once all the elements of the BUILD grant project are completed, we will have several new assets for the community and tourists to enjoy.”
This week, the subcontractor will begin the laborious and noisy project of driving sheet piles along the riverbank and then the driving of numerous mooring and support piles. The machinery (a pile-driving hammer) to install these piles is located on a barge and held in place by a crane. The barges will be in place for the project’s duration. Pile driving is expected to last three months and will be noisy.
These piles will support the pier’s elevated concrete deck sections. The deck sections are precast and will arrive on barges. Work on the pier will continue through the winter and spring, depending on the weather and river levels. Crews will be working Monday through Saturday from approximately 7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
This riverfront excursion pier will be a large structure more than 500 feet long and 20 feet wide along the riverfront just downstream of the Broadway floodwall entrance. This new landing pier will greatly enhance the experience and accessibility for Paducah’s riverboat passengers. The pier will feature seating adjacent to the riverbank and handrails on the river side. A 20-foot-wide grand staircase will be constructed from the pier to the floodwall opening on Water Street between Broadway and Jefferson. A 10-foot-wide ADA-accessible walkway will continue from the end of the pier to the floodwall opening on Broadway. To enhance the pier, native grasses will line the bank and large stainless-steel letters spelling out, Port of Paducah, will flank the grand staircase.
The BUILD project also includes the intersection improvements underway at the Convention Center along with two new bus shelters. The shelters will be installed at Monroe Street and 3rd and at Jefferson Street and North 2nd. The Paducah Area Transit System (PATS) will include these new bus stops on its routes. Work also continues between the floodwall and the transient dock near the Holiday Inn Paducah Riverfront. This portion of the project includes concrete pathways, seat walls, and paver work.
The City of Paducah is using a $10.4 million grant (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Grant) through the Maritime Administration along with $3.5 million in State funds to cover the majority of the construction cost of this project. Crews began mobilizing on the BUILD project on November 21, 2024. Substantial completion of the BUILD Grant project is scheduled for June 2026.
Learn more by visiting BUILD Grant.
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