McGehee Port Awarded $8M Grant for 2.5-Mile Channel and Rail Spur Rebuild
McGehee Port in Arkansas secured an $8 million federal grant to rebuild its 2.5-mile shipping channel and three rail spurs connecting to Union Pacific after 2019 flood damage. Reconstruction begins in mid-2026 and aims to restore full grain and fertilizer throughput by late 2026.
1. 2019 Flood Damage Impact
McGehee Port suffered severe damage in May 2019 when rising Mississippi River levels overtopped levees, depositing silt across the shipping channel and destroying three rail spurs, effectively halting barge-to-rail grain and fertilizer transfers.
2. Grant Approval and Reconstruction Plans
In February 2026 the port secured an $8 million federal grant to fund dredging of the 2.5-mile navigational channel and full reconstruction of the three rail spurs, with work slated to commence in mid-2026.
3. Impact on Union Pacific Operations
The rebuild will restore up to 200,000 tons per year of grain and fertilizer shipments to Union Pacific’s network, enhancing regional throughput and providing incremental rail volumes as restoration completes by late 2026.