Work has begun on a $118.1 million facility in North Carolina that will allow trucks to bring cargo containers to rail yards for transfer to trains.
The Carolina Connector Intermodal Facility spans 330 acres and intends to serve a multitude of industries move products along the region’s rail routes. Built along the CSX mainline, it will be run by the CSX Corporation and, by estimates of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), could indirectly create up to 1,300 jobs in the area.
“More than five million people live within 120 miles of this terminal,” Jim Trogdon, NCDOT Secretary, said. “The Carolina Connector will spur business development, divert thousands of trucks off highways and provide much-needed jobs in this fast-growing region.”
The $118.1 million investment from NCDOT will cover both site development and area road manufacturer. Construction is expected to take between 18 and 20 months, completing sometime in late 2020.
“The CCX Carolina Connector is a welcome addition to the businesses locating in Rocky Mount and Edgecombe County,” Norris Tolson, CEO and president of Carolinas Gateway Partnership, said. “This multimodal hub is a great win for all this area as it adds a tax base to our books, jobs to our communities and opportunities for our future. It is truly a game changer for all of North Carolina, especially eastern North Carolina.”