Burns Harbor port begins construction season with major projects
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The Ports of Indiana said Thursday that more than $77 million in infrastructure and expansion projects are being developed at its Burns Harbor port as construction season gets underway.
Among the projects are new highway bridges entering the port along Lake Michigan, three new ship berths, and a new bulk warehouse.
Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said in a news release that the port is going through a “transformational multiyear expansion,” noting the amount of construction that is currently happening exceeds every year since the port was built in the 1960s.
“These are critical projects that ensure our port remains an international gateway for ocean vessels, lakers and river barges, and that our multimodal infrastructure can meet growing freight demands in the northwest Indiana and greater Chicago market,” Peacock said. “We’re extremely grateful for the leadership from our state and federal departments of transportation in supporting Indiana’s multimodal expansion.”
The Indiana Department of Transportation is constructing two highway bridges that will serve as the inbound and outbound lanes connecting the port to State Road 249. The multiyear, $35.4 million project includes a new, two-lane bridge, followed by a rebuilding of an existing two-lane bridge.
The bridges will provide heavy-haul truck access for carrying port cargoes and expand the port entrance from two lanes to four.
A $25 million multimodal project will involve the construction of three ship berths and two railyards that the port authority said will expand shipping capabilities and improve efficiencies.
The Ports of Indiana said when complete, the projects will increase port capacity for handling ocean vessels by 35% and handling railcars by 1,200%. The effort will also turn three unproductive areas of the port into working docks.
A $9 million, 84,000-square-foot warehouse and bulk storage area is being constructed near the port’s East Harbor. The facility is expected to increase the port’s covered bulk storage capacity by 70% when it’s completed in 2025.
Additionally, the Ports of Indiana is making $8.3 million in capital investments to enhance the port’s infrastructure, including developing shovel-ready industrial sites, rail and dock rehabilitations, multiple paving projects, and additional upgrades.
“We have an aggressive investment strategy for this port that will drive new business into our region, create jobs for our longshoremen, operating engineers and construction workers, and fuel growth for customers and port operators like Logistec, Metro Ports and Burns Harbor Railroad,” Port Director Ryan McCoy said. “We want to grow port business by helping our customers grow their business.”
Last month, the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor welcomed its first ocean vessel of the year to kick off the international shipping season.
A study released in September found that Indiana’s three ports support more than 49,000 jobs and generate $8.7 billion in economic impact for the state.