Port Authority, Army Corps of Engineers
General Business

Port Authority, US Army Corps of Engineers Outline Millions in Investments

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey today outlined a multifaceted package of significant investments in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to boost navigational safety and efficiency at the East Coast’s busiest container port.

The investments will pave the way for tangible improvements to the Port of New York and New Jersey’s safety and efficiency, as well as enabling further growth of a national economic powerhouse that supports over half a million regional jobs and the movement of more than $200 billion in goods every year.

The new investments include more than $50 million through the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for the seaport’s berth maintenance dredging, berth rehabilitation and berth reconstruction.

Additionally, a separate $32 million project will deepen and widen the Gravesend Anchorage outside the Kill van Kull waterway from its current depth of 47 feet to 50 feet, which will provide a location for large ships to anchor between Ambrose Anchorage in the Atlantic Ocean and the seaport’s container terminals. Anchorage space that is large and deep enough to handle the largest container ships calling the Port of New York and New Jersey improves the port’s safety and efficiency, allowing large ships to move closer to the port during inspections, refueling or inclement weather and to have an emergency refuge area in the event of a mechanical or navigational issue.

During the pandemic, the Port of New York and New Jersey handled cargo volumes that ranged from nearly 19% to more than 47% above the amount of cargo handled before the pandemic. In 2022, The Port Authority was the country’s busiest for four consecutive months during the industry’s shipping peak period. The Port of New York and New Jersey is now the country’s second-busiest port and a critical link in the global supply chain.

“For about 50 million people across several states, this port is the reason why we have food to eat, shoes on our feet and beds to go to sleep,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The port is the economic foundation on which the region is built, and now we’re strengthening that foundation even further with millions of dollars of investment alongside our longtime partners at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.”

“Our gateway’s flexibility and efficiency have enabled us to absorb an unprecedented cargo surge during the pandemic and lend a helping hand when disaster struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “The port’s success is built upon our partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers, and we thank them for their longtime support of the Port of New York and New Jersey.”

“Our collaboration with the Port Authority, the states of New York and New Jersey, and the U.S. Coast Guard is essential in ensuring the port remains competitive and capable of handling large container vessels that help drive our nation’s supply chain and spur economic growth,” said Michael Connor, assistant secretary of civil works of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “This plan is a major priority for the Biden administration and sets forth a consensus vision and strategy for future ecosystem restoration in the region that, in concert with our navigation improvements to come, will ensure the Port of New York and New Jersey remains a premier port for the years to come.”

“This partnership with the Army Corps helps the Port of New York and New Jersey bolster its international reputation as a safe, steady and efficient commercial gateway for the densest population of customers in the United States,” said Bethann Rooney, director of the Port Department at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “These projects will make it possible for our seaport to serve a region whose demand for products made overseas is steadily increasing. The levels of cargo growth we saw during the pandemic will return as the new normal, and we – along with everyone in the supply chain – must prepare now for that future.”

The package of waterway improvement initiatives complement the Port Authority’s investments in the port’s land access, which include an ongoing $220 million project to redesign and rebuild the northern entrance of Port Newark at Port and Corbin streets. The interchange serves as a crucial link to the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 78 and provides access to one of the seaport’s busiest marine facilities. Additionally, the Port Authority has invested more than $600 million to modernize its on-dock intermodal facilities that connect the port to the national freight rail network, adding flexibility for port stakeholders.

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