SHAWNEETOWN, Ill. -- On Friday, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) announced more than $653 million to help fund 41 improvement projects across the nation. This is under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) and is an investment through the Biden-Harris Administration to help strengthen American supply chains.
This includes $10,120,000 for the Shawneetown Regional Port Revitalization Project in Shawneetown, Illinois.
The project the funds are going towards includes the design and construction of a 1.25-mile New Port Access Road, along with the development of a master plan for preparation of future port expansions and operations.
$3,295,879 also went to the Conveyor Upgrade and Replacement Project in Hickman, Kentucky.
This project will replace a conveyor system at the inland river port. It will also make high priority repairs to an existing mooring cell.
The PIDP Awards Fact Sheet states the project includes a new roughly 1,200-foot-long conveyor system, foundations for the conveyor, electrical infrastructure, and control mechanisms. The project also includes environmental, engineering, construction administration, testing and inspection, and procurement services.
This funding investment to the 41 port projects is projected to "help grow capacity and increase efficiency at coastal seaports, Great Lakes ports, and inland river ports," a release from the U.S. Department of Transportation stated.
The U.S. Department of Transportation news release states these port improvement projects will strengthen supply chain reliability, create workforce development opportunities, speed up the movement of goods, and improve the safety, reliability and resilience of ports.
For more information, you can find a full breakdown of ports across the nation who received part of the $653 million in funds .
