The Grand Isle Port Commission has completed repairs to the West Slip of the Commercial Dock, nearly five years after Hurricane Ida damaged the area.
The repairs will allow the port to lease more boat slips to commercial fishing vessels.
The project included replacing 377 feet of vinyl sheet bulkhead. Crews also upgraded walkways, pilings and parking access areas. Port officials say the work created at least six new boat slips for the local commercial fishing fleet.
The project was funded through a FEMA Hurricane Ida Public Assistance Grant, the State of Louisiana Capital Outlay Program and Jefferson Parish.
Weldon Danos, the port’s executive director and president of the Ports Association of Louisiana, described the project as a long and difficult effort.
“It has been a long and challenging process since Hurricane Ida to secure sufficient funding for this critical project,” Danos noted. “We are proud to have overcome those obstacles and are pleased to see the Port return to full operation in support of our local commercial fishing industry.”
The Grand Isle Port Commission also thanked State Sen. Pat Connick and State Rep. Joe Orgeron for helping secure supplemental state funding for the project.
The Grand Isle Port Commission was created in 1996. It regulates commerce and traffic at the port on Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island. Grand Isle is a hub for the petroleum industry, commercial fishing and tourism.
The port supports safety and commerce in Grand Isle and nearby waters.
Why it matters
The repairs restore more of the port’s working capacity after Hurricane Ida. They also give commercial fishing vessels more space to operate, which can help support local jobs, seafood businesses and the broader Grand Isle economy.
READ MORE:Grand Isle Port Commission restores West Slip after Hurricane Ida damage
