North Carolina port’s $16 million grant aids container capacity

A $16 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to the North Carolina State Port Authority will help pay for upgrades that will triple the Port of Wilmington’s container capacity.

The USDOT’s Maritime Administration’s grant will support development of a new container gate complex at the port, according to a news release.

The overall project is part of a five-year, $200 million container expansion plan. The current container gate (channel for container trucks transporting cargo) isn’t adequate for forecasted container volumes, but when the expansion is complete, it will more than triple the container capacity. Inbound and outbound lanes for trucks are increasing, and a container operations building will be constructed.

The $16-million-grant is the largest single grant awarded to North Carolina ports yet, Brian Clark, chief operating officer, said in the release.

“Improving the container gate has long been part of our infrastructure improvements plan at the Port of Wilmington,” he said in the release. “We recognized early on the need for a more modern gate. Our terminal in Wilmington is known for its fast truck turn times and this modern complex will help us maintain the speed our customers expect.”

The project includes a new truck gate interchange with technology to improve safety and efficiency, according to the release.

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