Port McKenzie is more than just a dock across Cook Inlet from Anchorage.
It’s part of the 9,000-acre Special Use District owned by the Mat-Su Borough. The district includes about 8,000 acres of uplands and 1,000 acres of tidelands. It is envisioned as both an industrial hub and a gateway for exporting Alaska’s natural resources and importing key materials.
Port McKenzie Director David Griffin has led the facility since 2023. He brings a background in land and resource management. Griffin explains that the port is more than what you see from a distance.
Large bulk carriers bring in commodities like road salt for winter maintenance and cement for construction projects. Most of the vessel traffic is barges. They transport equipment, fuel, and materials to remote communities across western Alaska and Cook Inlet.
Griffin contrasts Port McKenzie with the Port of Anchorage. Anchorage handles containerized goods like groceries and vehicles. It serves as a major fuel and military hub. Port McKenzie is designed for bulk materials and large-scale industrial use.
The Port MacKenzie Rail Extension is key to port expansion. It would connect the port to the rail system. About 25 miles of the 32-mile rail bed are built.
Griffin says completing the rail line would be transformative, especially as demand grows for Alaska’s minerals, timber, and other bulk resources. The port could become the primary export site for materials coming from the Interior and beyond.
He expressed optimism about the proposed natural gas pipeline from the North Slope. If completed, the project would require massive amounts of materials. This highlights the importance of Port McKenzie.
Development at the port continues. Plans include a bulk fuel terminal, expanded cement operations, and maybe a data center. A mining company is building an antimony processing facility at the port. The district’s industrial zoning and large amount of available land make it attractive for such projects.
The port operates with just three borough staff. It sees about 30 barge visits and one to two large ships annually.
Looking ahead, Griffin notes infrastructure improvements funded by recent grants, include new security systems, a 120-ton crane, and a planned barge haul-out facility. Last week the State of Alaska announced a federal grant of $34 million for Port Mackenzie. The grant will fund a 110-acre cargo laydown area, rail spur, and barge dock improvements.
Griffin says keep an eye on Port McKenzie. As Alaska’s resource development grows, the port is poised to play a key role in moving resources to market.
In other news:
The MEA annual meeting is tomorrow night at the Glenn Massay Theater. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the meeting starts at 6 p.m.
The Palmer City Council also meets tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
The City of Palmer 75th anniversary and the grand reopening celebration of the Palmer Golf Course Clubhouse is on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the clubhouse
The Palmer Golf course will open on Thursday. Tentatively all holes will open for walking only. Check the Palmer Municipal Golf Course Facebook page for updates.
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This Page Two article was reported by Mike Chmielewski and produced by yours truly, Lee Henrikson. If you have an idea for a Page 2 topic, please email us at page2@radiofreepalmer.org.
That’s it for today and the news on Page Two on Monday April 27, 2026.
(image from matsu.gov)