Inland Port in Greer, SC Undergoes Expansion
The South Carolina Ports Authority was established by the state’s General Assembly in 1942. They own and operate public seaport facilities in Charleston, Dillon, Georgetown, and Greer. Port operations facilitate 225,000 jobs statewide and generate approximately $63.4 billion in annual economic activity, over half of which occurs at Inland Port Greer. For this reason, Inland Port Greer is about to undergo a major expansion that will improve rail capacity, efficiency, and flexibility.
Inland Port Greer extends the Port of Charleston’s reach 212 miles inland via the Norfolk Southern rail service, allowing companies throughout the Southeast and Midwest to quickly receive imported goods. Located between Greenville and Spartanburg, Inland Port Greer operates daily and services 94 million consumers. Expanding Inland Port Greer will drive more growth to the region, creating jobs and economic growth. Will Angelich, the Terminal Manager and Inland Port Greer, says the port is “an economic engine for the state of South Carolina, [the] upstate specifically.”
The expansion is partly funded by a grant from BUILD (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development). Additional rail processing and storage racks within the terminal and new facilities for heavy lift maintenance will be constructed and the existing chassis yard will be extended. The track will be lengthened along the mainline to accommodate longer trains carrying cargo to and from the Port of Charleston. Efforts will allow for additional container capacity for customers and enhance rail capacity and efficiency.
Atlas Surveying, Inc.’s Greenville office has been subcontracted by Bullock Railroad to perform surveying services for the project. Atlas will locate and verify control, stake silt fence, and set GPS control. Storm and utilities such as light poles, vaults, and hand holes will be staked along with track construction baselines and a security fence. As-builts for storm, track, fencing, and utilities will be provided.
South Carolina Secretary of Transportation, Christy Hall, states “our overall transportation system serves as the infrastructure for economic development on a scale that improves the lives of all South Carolinians.” Norfolk Southern’s Vice President of Business Development and Real Estate, Kathleen Smith, says “the Upstate Express Corridor will greatly enhance South Carolina’s rail infrastructure and supply chain…providing more economic growth for the state.”
A completion date has not been announced for the $28 million project.
