USDOT awards grant for Jaxport terminal improvements

Florida's Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) yesterday announced it has been awarded a $20 million federal grant to reconstruct more than 100 acres of existing terminal pavement at the SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal at the port’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. 

The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, and is part of a $238 million plan to expand and upgrade the facility to accommodate more containers, Jaxport officials said in a press release.

Once completed, the facility will be able to handle 425,000 additional 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually. Other improvements include storm drainage, enhanced lighting, signage and utilities.

SSA Marine, a private partner, will contribute up to $129.7 million for the use of the terminal and facility upgrades, including the addition of three 100-gauge container cranes. 

Meanwhile, a $109 million federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping channel is also underway. The project will allow the terminal to simultaneously accommodate two post-Panamax vessels.

CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and Florida East Coast Railway serve the port.