PORT ANGELES — With his “Jobs Now” economic development campaign touching down on the North Olympic Peninsula, city and Port leaders pressed Gov. Gary Locke on Thursday to support private-sector use of the proposed state Department of Transportation graving yard.
They want to ensure that the facility generates jobs after components for the Hood Canal Bridge’s new eastern half are done in 2006.
Locke said he supports state and private use of the dry dock to be built on Port Angeles’ industrial waterfront to generate future regional marine trade employment.
“There’s no reason that big shipping companies couldn’t use it themselves,” Locke said after concluding his “Jobs Now” daylong tour of Port Angeles’ key economic development sites and flying back to Olympia from William R. Fairchild International Airport.
Locke said he first and foremost supported state use of the graving yard for future floating bridge projects.
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