Metro Council to take up Municipal Dock work Wednesday

Engineers have five weeks to get the downtown Municipal Dock ready for the return of cruise ships to Baton Rouge. Beginning April 19, four new vessels—two paddle wheelers and two small cruise ships—will make regular stops in downtown Baton Rouge as they cruise up and down the Mississippi. “This is a whole new economic engine to come to town,” says Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer, who got an update on the progress of the dock work at this morning’s monthly DDD meeting. “These companies are also bringing a tour bus, so when the boats disembark, the buses will bring the passengers around the city to various sites.” Rhorer says he’s confident the work on the dock, which includes painting, minor repairs and improved lighting, will be done when the first of the season’s 25 vessels docks next month. The Metro Council is expected to vote on the engineering contract for the repairs, which are being done in phases and total about $900,000, at its regular meeting Wednesday. The council meets at 4 p.m. on the third floor of the Governmental Building, 222 St. Louis St. See the council’s full agenda here. —Stephanie Riegel