Tag Archives: Portobello

Portobello designing a 100,000 foot addition for its Baxter facility, because the company needs more warehouse space. Baxter Mayor John Martin said engineers are in the process of design work now, with a hope to put the project out for bid quickly. The facility off Interstate 40 included plans for the expansion. Baxter officials said they set the area aside ... Read More »

Final testing underway and completing several punch list items for Baxter’s water and sewer expansion to the new Portobello plant. Mayor John Martin said the pump station is operational, but work crews are working through some of the final details. Martin said the whole process was “an adventure.” “Well, it’s just coordinating everything, the water lines and all,” Martin said. ... Read More »

Baxter officials have issued a certificate of occupancy (CO) for Portobello America, allowing them to test equipment in the building. Codes Official Bob Lane told the Board of Aldermen Thursday that the temporary CO will serve the company until January. He said with all of the uncertainties, they wanted to be sure Portobello could progress as much as possible until ... Read More »

Baxter will have to decide what steps to take with repaving and repairs on the old Ditty Road. The road has been closed since June 20th while crews extended utilities to Portobello. City Engineer Tom Bennett told the mayor and alderman at its Thursday night meeting that he has discussed options for a suitable fix with crews, including tar and ... Read More »

Baxter officials met with contractors and Portobello officials to discuss Ditty Road’s planned closure starting Tuesday, June 20th. Mayor John Martin said that the road will be closed as they extend water and sewer to Portobello’s new facility. “We’re going to close Ditty Road to all local traffic,” Martin said. “But we’re going to leave it open to the large ... Read More »

City of Baxter approved a bid for some $1.6 million for the Portobello America sewer extension work. UCDD Deputy Director Tommy Lee said that the bid from Rogers Group will provide sewer upgrades along State Route 56 and Baxter Road. He said the upgrades will also make it possible for Portobello America to start its operations. “The more growth that ... Read More »

Portobello America is working to set up a live cam for people to view its construction progress. Vice President of Manufacturing and Outsourcing James Durbin said that the excavation process has already begun. He said that by June, progress should be visible from the interstate. “Typically it would take 12 to 14 months,” Durbin said. “It’s a little longer, a ... Read More »

TDOT has allocated some $22 million for work on Baxter’s 280 interchange. Mayor John Martin said that the need for this work was originally discovered five years ago in a corridor study. He said that the city’s development, particularly the Portobello project, showed the need to accelerate the process. “The commissioner said that something had to be done out here ... Read More »

T-DOT has completed the right-of-way plan for the Portobello project in Baxter. Community Relations Officer Rae Anne Bradley said the final plan will need local funding before being shared with Baxter. “Once we have that approval, the right-of-way acquisition process and utility coordination process can begin,” Bradley said. “The acquisition process for this project involves 11 different tracts and should ... Read More »

Work on Baxter’s Portobello America site is some two months ahead of schedule. Building and Codes Official Bob Lane said that the crew had been able to complete the grading and move dirt for the tile manufacturing company more swiftly than expected. “Building people, they will put someone on the backburner for a project this size, and I’m sure that’s ... Read More »