Berth 4 Redevelopment

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Built in 1928, the Port's Berth 4 was home to the bustling Continental Grain Terminal for 60 years until the late 1980s, when the facility was shut down. For the next decade, the dock was used as a lay berth to park ships waiting to unload. When it became evident the 87-year-old dock had reached the end of its useful life, the Port began a multi-phase project to redevelop the site.

Phase 1 began with the removal of the old timber decking in March 2014, followed by the removal of over 1,000 creosote-treated pilings in 2015. In 2016, the Port finished construction of seven new dolphins in its place that are used to tie up vessels while they're waiting to be loaded or unloaded.

Phase 2 of the project included a full site hazard assessment and estimate for upland demolition of the silos and adjacent facilities.

In 2022, the Port was granted the final permits to move forward with demolition of the grain complex and its adjacent facilities. Demolition began in July 2023 and is currently underway. Once the demolition is complete, and the site is ready for a new tenant, the Port will pursue securing a new industry and create a new future for Berth 4.

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Demolition Photos

Berth 4 Demolition
Berth 4 Demolition
Berth 4 Demolition
Berth 4 Demolition
Berth 4 Demolition
Berth 4 Demolition

Historic Preservation

Did you know that the Berth 4 Grain Complex was designated a historic property and required mitigation prior to demolition? The mitigation that was determined to be appropriate included documenting the complex, its history and relevance to the Port of Longview and Cowlitz County. Because of this historic significance, before demolition, the Port needed to secure numerous permits relative to the site, one of those being a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 408 permit. Part of that permit included working with the USACE and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) to address Section 106 Cultural Resources provisions under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) to properly document the historical use and nature of the old grain complex.


The Port, in coordination with the relative organizations, developed a short list of historic preservation items to complete as the facility gets torn down. Of those items includes: 

  • Historic Documentation Compilation
  • A short historical booklet
  • A visual display using items salvaged from the grain complex
  • A short documentary
  • A timeline mural

As items get completed, a link will be created to view that items completion. Stay tuned, we've got a lot to historically preserve!