Contract Approved to Move Forward on Van Buren Slackwater Harbor
The Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority (WAIA) Board of Directors approved a significant step towards constructing a slackwater harbor in Van Buren on October 14, 2023. However, concerns regarding potential liabilities were raised by a board member and the board's attorney for this over $18 million project.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced a $15.096 million grant in November 2023 to support the harbor's construction, estimated to cost approximately $18.16 million. The harbor, located off the main channel of the Arkansas River, will be 1,000 feet long and 200 feet wide, capable of mooring and offloading up to eight barges simultaneously. It will feature a 50-foot-wide concrete deck for mobile cranes and roughly 2,000 feet of dock frontage.
WAIA received MARAD approval in March 2026 to begin harbor construction, which has been delayed by engineering and environmental reviews, as well as staff turnover within MARAD.
Van Buren-based Five Rivers Distribution, operator of the Port of Fort Smith, has pledged almost $5 million towards the project. WAIA is also seeking a $1.6 million grant from the Arkansas Waterways Commission to fund the endeavor.
At the October 14 meeting, the board approved an agreement with Overland Park, Kansas-based Massman Construction for pre-construction services, setting a "guaranteed maximum price" (GMP) for the work.