The Alabama Port Authority has announced a 39.7% increase in the Port of Mobile container volumes in April, with the port’s container intermodal transfer facility growing by 112.6% year-on-year in the previous month.
During the same period, the Port of Mobile reported a significant growth in refrigerated cargo, posting a 57.9% gain.
As container volume continues to grow, the port authority is investing in infrastructure to increase capacity and efficiency for shippers using the gate.
In March 2022, the Alabama Port Authority and the Mobile Airport Authority received a total of US$100 million from the US Department of Transportation to strengthen the Port of Mobile’s multimodal transportation hub to better serve trade.
More specifically, the US$38 million allocated to the Alabama Port Authority will be channeled into the construction of two projects aimed at increasing capacity for intermodal rail and multimodal freight movements at the Port of Mobile. This investment includes a new inter-terminal bridge connecting the marine terminal with the intermodal railway facility and the adjacent logistics park.
Development works are also planned in the neighboring adjacent logistics park.
The Port Authority has received another US$67.3 million, which it will use to improve intermodal and freight rail infrastructure under the FY2022 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
This funding will make it easier to build an inland intermodal transfer facility (ICTF) in Montgomery, Ala.
The US$58 million facility, located along the I-65 corridor, provides regional intermodal shippers with rapid transit to and from the Port of Mobile.
The Port Authority and CSX Transportation are working together to build the facility, which, when completed, is expected to create 2,618 direct and indirect jobs, US$340 million in business revenues and more than US$14.2 million in state and local taxes, according to the statement.
The time required to complete the construction of the project is 28-36 months.
In addition to the Montgomery ICTF, the State of Alabama has announced the creation of the Alabama-US Corridor.
Norfolk Southern oversees the US$231.6 million incremental program, which aims to increase the capacity of freight and intermodal rail and velocity, as well as develop large locations within the state to promote economic growth.
The project includes rail improvements to connect Norfolk Southern’s McCalla intermodal facility at Birmingham, Ala., with the Port of Mobile. Combined, the A-USA Corridor improvements enhance the resilience of the supply chain in the Southeastern United States.
“It’s rewarding to see the port’s long-term strategic vision come to fruition and play a role in driving economic growth throughout the region,” said Beth Branch, chief commercial officer of the Alabama State Port Authority.
