Facility Expansion: Virginia
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Work Commences at Virginia International Gateway Heralding Start of Three-Year Expansion Plan
Work is underway at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) on a $320-million project that will nearly double the terminal’s annual cargo handling capability. This is the first of two large-scale expansion projects that together will increase overall annual container capacity at the Port of Virginia by 40 percent, or 1 million container units, by 2020.
The completed expansion will boost VIG capacity from 650,000 to 1.2 million containers annually. Furthermore, says the VPA, it could result in 166,000 jobs across the Commonwealth, $22 billion in additional spending and more than $636 million in state and local taxes.
Last November, the port and Virginia International Gateway, LLC, agreed to a new long-term lease for the 576-acre facility. The lease, which went into effect November 17, 2016, and extends through 2065, cleared the path for the port to begin work on the expansion.
In July, the port authority will begin work on another major project, the expansion of the south stack/container yard at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). This $350 million project will create greater density for cargo at NIT and expand annual capacity by 400,000 containers. Sixty new rail-mounted gantry cranes will serve the completely reconfigured container stack yard, which is due for completion by 2020.
"We are adding capacity now so we can handle the cargo that will be coming to us in the very near future," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). "The big ships are here -- more are on the way – and they are carrying significant amounts of containers and Virginia will be ready to accommodate that volume."
Work is underway at Virginia International Gateway (VIG) on a $320-million project that will nearly double the terminal’s annual cargo handling capability. This is the first of two large-scale expansion projects that together will increase overall annual container capacity at the Port of Virginia by 40 percent, or 1 million container units, by 2020.
Survey crews have begun the preparatory work to expand the rail/container stacking yard at VIG. The overall project includes expanding the container-stacking yard, doubling the on-dock rail operation and expanding the truck gate.
The wharf work will create new berth space. A longer wharf will make way for four new Suez class container cranes to work the big ships and their cargos. The wharf project is slated to begin March 15 and be completed by winter 2018.
The completed expansion will boost VIG capacity from 650,000 to 1.2 million containers annually. Furthermore, says the VPA, it could result in 166,000 jobs across the Commonwealth, $22 billion in additional spending and more than $636 million in state and local taxes.
Last November, the port and Virginia International Gateway, LLC, agreed to a new long-term lease for the 576-acre facility. The lease, which went into effect November 17, 2016, and extends through 2065, cleared the path for the port to begin work on the expansion.
In July, the port authority will begin work on another major project, the expansion of the south stack/container yard at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). This $350 million project will create greater density for cargo at NIT and expand annual capacity by 400,000 containers. Sixty new rail-mounted gantry cranes will serve the completely reconfigured container stack yard, which is due for completion by 2020.
"We are adding capacity now so we can handle the cargo that will be coming to us in the very near future," said John F. Reinhart, CEO and executive director of the Virginia Port Authority (VPA). "The big ships are here -- more are on the way – and they are carrying significant amounts of containers and Virginia will be ready to accommodate that volume."
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