Project to construct riverboat excursion pier begins next week

The next construction phase of the Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project (BUILD grant project) begins next week. 

During the week of June 9, crews will begin mobilizing equipment for the construction of the riverboat excursion pier and its associated walkways. This pier will be a large structure 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.

This phase of the project involves two main contractors. There will be work along the riverfront removing old sidewalks and landings beginning next week. Once the earthwork is completed pier construction will begin with materials and equipment arriving by barge. To facilitate the work and provide a location for equipment and supplies, one lane of Water Street between Broadway and Jefferson Street closest to the floodwall will be closed to traffic beginning next week.

Crews will be working Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. This phase of the project is expected to be from June to December. Please note that part of this work will include pile driving which is planned to start at the end of the week of June 16. Pile driving is expected to last four to six weeks and will be noisy. However, the City of Paducah has a construction noise waiver in the ordinance to accommodate large projects such as this one.

Since much of the pier work will be facilitated from a barge, the Foot of Broadway, Schultz Park, the transient dock and landmass, and the Greenway Trail (except on the river side of the floodwall between Broadway and Jefferson Street) will remain open during construction. Also, crews will not be working on July 4.

This 540-foot pier requires numerous mooring and support piles that will be driven into the riverbed leading to the noise. For comparison, the transient dock downstream near the Convention Center is 340 feet long with piles that are 36 inches in diameter. This pier will have 18 piles that are 48 inches in diameter and three mooring dolphins of equivalent size. Furthermore, there will be dozens of smaller support piles and a bulkhead. The machinery (a pile-driving hammer) to install these piles will be located on a barge and held in place by a crane. The barges will be in place for the project’s duration.

After the piles are completed, the decking for the pier will be installed from the barge along with a 15-foot wide sidewalk to connect the pier to the landing at the Broadway floodwall opening.

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. The project also includes improvements to the intersection at the Convention Center and the work on the river side of the floodwall near the transient dock. Crews began mobilizing on the BUILD project, which is expected to take approximately 18 to 24 months, on November 21, 2024.