Staff Report/Stacey Tinsley, Bossier Press-Tribune
Officials from The City of Bossier City and the Port of Caddo-Bossier celebrated a new milestone on Thursday, November 14, 2024, as they turned on the ceremonial spigot to activate a new $20 million waterline, providing a vital infrastructure upgrade to the Port complex. Construction on the new waterline began in October 2023 and was completed in about ten months, connecting a previously undeveloped area on the west side of Highway 1.
The new waterline stretches from near Parkway High School in Bossier City to the Red River, crossing beneath the river with a 30-inch boring pipe placed 125 feet below the river bed surface. In total, the waterline extends nearly 5,000 feet, bringing essential resources to the Port campus. Crews also installed an additional sewage line beneath the river, which will remain capped until growth at the Port demands it.
“This is part of a process to prepare land on the west side of Highway 1 for future development,” said Caddo-Bossier Port Commission President Bill Altimus. “To attract new businesses to the area, The Port must have greenfield sites that are shovel-ready. This new waterline is the first step to upgrading that area of The Port.”
The waterline, now linked to Bossier City’s water system, ensures that existing Port tenants have access to a reliable secondary water source, complementing the primary water supply from Shreveport. This redundancy protects the Port’s operations by allowing for seamless switching in case of any water disruptions.
“The Bossier City Council made the right decision to upgrade the city’s water treatment plant,” said Bossier City Councilman At-Large David Montgomery. “There is plenty of extra capacity to increase water output. By providing water to tenants at the Port, Bossier City is also creating a new revenue stream.”
Funded by a low-interest loan, the project represents a cost-efficient investment for the Port, which will generate revenue through water sales to tenants to repay the loan. With water now readily available, the Port aims to attract industries looking for “shovel-ready” sites equipped with essential utilities like water, gas, and electricity.
The new waterline sets the stage for economic development at the Port of Caddo-Bossier, with leaders expressing confidence that the infrastructure upgrade will play a crucial role in drawing businesses and supporting regional growth.