Deadline for opening bids on Alaska Ferry Terminal pushed back until January 21st

There is a much desired development for those hoping to see a resolution to the ongoing controversy over the Alaska Marine Highway Terminal Renovation Project in Prince Rupert.

That as Alaska provides for a bit more time for work to continue towards a solution to the  cross border controversy, with the Alaska Government announcing Monday, that it has extended the Bid deadline for the project until later this month.

The original deadline for Bids was to be on December 4th of 2014, with Alaska hoping to move quickly on its plans to develop the infrastructure of the Prince Rupert Terminal.

However, as we've recounted on the blog over the last few months, Buy America provisions that are part of that proposal have proven to be controversial in nature and have resulted in some cross border exchanges in recent weeks. Including some fears expressed locally, that the entire project may not move forward.

December 23-- Alaska Ferry renovations shift from trade issue to political irritant
November 28-- Alaska Marine Highway Terminal renovations find a bit of International controversy
November 25-- AMHS Terminal project on the radar for Canadian Business Group

As that controversy continued to make for discussions across borders through December, the State of Alaska extended the Bid process deadline,  with a secondary deadline set for today, January 6th, allowing for both sides to work to find accommodation on the project.

And while there is little public comment being made at the moment about the progress of those discussions, it would seem that there must be some momentum from them, as Alaska has chosen to extend the deadline one more time.

The latest extension for bids is now January 21st, an announcement made by the State of Alaska yesterday appeared in the listings of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities Bid Calendar.

The AMHS Terminal Project has raised some concerns locally for both Tourism Prince Rupert and the Chamber of Commerce, which provided their own review of the situation in late December.

According to Alaska News outlets yesterday, a spokeswoman for Alaska Governor Bill Walker stated that the delay speaks to a willingness on both sides to come to mutually agreeable terms.

Developments that should at least offer some hope to North Coast officials that the project is still a going concern and progress towards a solution continues.

You can access more information about Transportation issues on the North Coast from our archive page here.


Update January 6: The Alaska Post Dispatch provided further background on the deadline extension and the hopes that the extra time will lead to a resolution to the issue, see item here.