America’s Central Port infrastructure project makes progress
Written by Marine Log Staff
Project is on track to be the first completed under the federally-funded Illinois Competitive Freight Grant Program
An infrastructure project underway at one of the largest freight hubs in the Midwest, America’s Central Port, Granite City, Ill., will see an estimated 1.5 additional barges loaded each day, removing 31,500 long-haul trucks from the road each year.
The project is on track to be the first completed under the federally-funded Illinois Competitive Freight Grant Program, marking the first time in Illinois’ history that funds have been specifically designated for freight projects.
The America’s Central Port project will revitalize the Granite City Harbor general cargo dock.
Awarded $1,092,130 with a $275,000 match on the part of America’s Central Port, this project will increase last-mile efficiency, reduce freight truck bottlenecks within the port and enhance the intermodal connectivity of the Granite City Harbor. The projected impact will increase daily freight traffic by 60%, where an estimated 1.5 additional barges will be loaded each day, removing 31,500 long-haul trucks from the road each year.
As a result of this much needed improvement to the dock surface and rail tracks, SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals, the barge and harbor operator at America’s Central Port, is making significant additional investments.
“We are excited to announce the purchase of a state of the art Sennebogen hydraulic crane that will vastly improve loading times of trucks and railcars,” said Brice Power, General Manager SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals. “In addition SCF Lewis and Clark Terminals LLC has approved the upgrade to the conveying system currently used to load trucks and railcars with a larger and faster conveying system. Together, America’s Central Port and SCF are looking to the future to serve the needs of our customers with better and more reliable services.”
