Name: N.C. International Terminal
Location: 600 acres on Cape Fear River just north of Southport
Cost: $2.2 billion
Capacity: 415,000 to 1 million standard containers a year at the first phase and up to 3 million a year at full build out
Funding: N.C. State Ports Authority, private partner, state and federal funds
Private partner: Ports Authority is talking to interested parties.
Infrastructure: New highways, improved rail, deeper navigation channel and construction of the facility.
What’s been done: The land has been purchased and a business plan has been completed.
Economics: According to an economic impact study, it will create more than 16,500 jobs and support 477,000 jobs statewide, as well as generate $1.1 billion a year in state and local tax revenue when complete.
Traffic: Projections call for trucks and railcars to carry more than 1.7 million containers from the port each year by 2030. That would mean an average of 275 trucks arriving or leaving each hour and 10 trains leaving the port each day.
Concerns: The town of Caswell Beach has publicly opposed the port amid concerns that it will disrupt quality of life and harm the environment. A grass-roots opposition group called No Port, Southport has formed.
Studies: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers received $96,000 from the federal government to conduct a feasibility study. N.C. Board of Transportation approved spending $250,000 for a study looking into highway and rail requirements. Because of state financial freezes, the study is on hold at least until July.
Completion: Goal for the first phase of the project is to open in 2017, depending on the market.
source: www.starnewsonline.com

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