North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony that the new Carolina Connector (CCX) intermodal transportation facility in Edgecombe County will spur economic development and help meet the region’s growing transportation needs.
“Our country’s supply chain needs help with shipping so people and businesses can get the things they need,” says Gov. Cooper.
Gov. Cooper was joined by leadership from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), CSX Corp. and Carolinas Gateway Partnership.
The 330-acre site allows trucks to bring cargo containers to a rail yard where they are transferred to trains for transport. CCX’s prime location also offers businesses incentive to locate to the area by creating cost-effective rail service in Nash and Edgecombe counties.
“Millions of people live within 120 miles of this terminal,” says NCDOT Secretary Eric Boyette. “The Carolina Connector will spur business development, divert thousands of trucks off highways and provide much needed jobs in this fast-growing region.”
CSX contributed $40 million to the project and is operating the facility that was built on the company’s main line. NCDOT invested $118 million for site development and road construction.
“CSX appreciates our partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and we thank the state for its contribution toward making this project possible. The CCX terminal is a demonstration of how CSX is creating sustainable supply chain solutions for customers by expanding our intermodal network in Eastern North Carolina and connecting to the busy I-95 corridor. We are proud that this project will be a catalyst for economic growth and development in the region,” said CSX Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Nathan Goldman.
Construction on the facility began in 2019. CCX will be one of the most advanced terminal on the CSX network, featuring three wide span, fully automated zero emission electric cranes with a lift capacity of 110,000 containers per year. Most of the container handling will be completely automated with operators remotely controlling the initial lift and final placement more safely from inside the terminal building.
Construction of the Carolina Connector will also allow NC Ports to start the Wilmington Midwest Express, opening up new markets by connecting Port of Wilmington customers with daily direct freight rail service to the Midwest.
