Ingram, Tennessee Partner To Develop New Port
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced May 19 that a public-private partnership has been reached to develop the Ashland City River Port.
Ingram Marine Group, the state of Tennessee and Cheatham County, Tenn., are joining forces to develop the port with the goal of enhancing connectivity with more freight transportation options, reducing congestion and spurring economic growth.
The project involves the creation of a multimodal, multi-commodity inland riverport on a 40-acre site at Cumberland River Mile 162 in Ashland City. Ingram Marine Group will pay to construct the $30 million port on land identified by Cheatham County. TDOT is to pay for construction of a $3 million pier with state funds supporting multimodal infrastructure.
“Strategic partnerships like this represent the kind of forward-thinking solutions essential to addressing Tennessee’s evolving infrastructure needs,” Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said. “TDOT remains committed to exploring every opportunity to strengthen our regional and national economic competitiveness by advancing infrastructure enhancements and operational innovations that alleviate congestion and remove critical freight bottlenecks.”
The port will be designed to enhance supply chain movement with its location within 10 miles of interstates 40 and 65. The site has potential for rail access to CSX via Nashville Western Railroad.
TDOT noted in a press release that barging is the most sustainable form of transportation “as it causes less congestion, mitigates expensive transportation costs and reduces air pollution.”
“We welcome Ingram Marine Group as a major part of the Cheatham County Industrial Park,” Cheatham County Mayor Kerry McCarver said. “Its impact will reach far beyond the Cumberland River, stretching to the Nashville region. Cheatham County could not ask for a better neighbor to bring investment and jobs our way. Thanks to TDOT for helping make this port a reality. It truly is a public-private partnership that will result in jobs and a tax base for the county. The river port, along with the existing Cheatham Rail line and four-lane roadway into Nashville, will give the best options to bring commerce in and out of middle Tennessee.”
Construction is expected to start this summer. The first phase of construction will include a fixed dock, multi-commodity warehouse and site improvements. Dry goods expected to be moved by barge from the Ashland City River Port include cement, rebar, aluminum and rubber.
“Saying how incredibly excited we are to launch this project would be an understatement,” said John Roberts, CEO of Ingram Marine Group. “The Ashland City River Port will allow us to move a variety of dry goods more efficiently and effectively to better serve Tennessee businesses and residents. We are proud to open such a world-class facility in our home state and bring high-paying jobs to the Ashland City community. We want to thank Governor Lee and the legislature for making infrastructure improvements such as this one a priority. We would not be here today without them.”
Featured image caption: From left, Kerry McCarver, mayor of Cheatham County, Tenn.; Ashland City Mayor Gerald Greer; Butch Eley, deputy governor of Tennessee and commissioner of transportation; Tennessee State Rep. Mary Littleton; Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee; Orrin Ingram, chairman of Ingram Marine Group and CEO of Ingram Industries; and John Roberts, CEO of Ingram Marine Group. The state, Cheatham County and Ingram are partnering to develop the Ashland City River Port project. (Photo courtesy of Ingram Marine Group)
