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The Alabama State Port Authority (Port
Authority) took another giant step toward its goal to establish a world
class container and rail intermodal terminal on the Central Gulf of
Mexico. The Authority’s board of directors on Tuesday awarded HDR Inc.,
a $4.2 million engineering design and construction management services
contract for the Authority’s proposed Intermodal Container Transfer
Facility at Choctaw Point. James K. Lyons, Director and CEO of the Port
Authority, advised, “This contract for HDR to design and ultimately
manage the construction of the rail intermodal terminal accelerates our
phased construction of Choctaw Point Terminal.” HDR Inc. is a full
service architectural and engineering firm based in Omaha Nebraska with
offices located throughout the United States, Canada and Great Britain.
The HDR contract represents the last in a
series of engineering contracts for the Choctaw Point Terminal. To
date, the Authority has expended $75 million in engineering and
construction contracts for the project. The decision to move forward on
the intermodal container transfer facility came on the heels of the
Authority’s announcement to partner with APM Terminals and CMA CGM on
the container terminal. “We believe the increased container volume we
are currently experiencing coupled with the anticipated volumes that
will develop when Stage 1 of the container terminal is completed will
warrant a functional rail intermodal yard to increase services and
efficiencies for shippers,” Lyons stated.
Alabama State Port Authority (http://www.asdd.com)
operates the State of Alabama’s deepwater port facilities in Mobile,
Ala. The Authority directly employs 570 workers and its facilities
handle more than 24 million tons of cargo each year. Alabama’s full
service seaport handles containers, breakbulk, bulk and oversized and
heavy lift cargoes. The Authority’s proposed Choctaw Point Terminal and
its general cargo and bulk facilities are located at the Port of Mobile
with immediate access to two interstate systems, five Class 1 railroads,
and nearly 15,000 miles of inland waterway connections. |
