News and Press Releases for December 2006

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12/20/2006

Budget to Put $100 Million Toward Port Access Road

Governor's Budget Proposal to Target Expanding Port Capacity

Columbia, S.C. - In the latest preview of his upcoming Executive Budget, Governor Mark Sanford today announced that his spending proposal will call for $100 million toward building a port access road connecting the planned Naval Base terminal to Interstate 26.

The State Ports Authority's current plan calls for expanding operations at the Charleston Naval Base with a new three-berth terminal that will be able to handle more than 1 million 20-foot-equivalent unit containers a year. If the governor's budget proposal is adopted, $177 million will still be needed to complete the access road, which Gov. Sanford said he will propose funding in future budgets.

"In an increasingly global economy, port capacity has never been a more important part of our competitive advantage as a state," Gov. Sanford said. "Going forward, our administration is committed to not only funding this access road, but also to growing our port capacity through expansions at the Navy Base and establishing a port in Jasper County. I look forward to working with the Ports Authority and the General Assembly to make these projects a reality sooner rather than later."

More than 700 companies from across the state rely on the Port of Charleston to access suppliers and buyers around the world. The proposed North Charleston terminal will provide approximately 3,510 feet of berthing space and 280 acres of container support area. An integral part of the expansion plan is a $9.6 million environmental and community mitigation plan to offset any impacts. This expansion, combined with the Ports Authority's near-term improvement plan, is planned to handle growth by the Port of Charleston's existing customer base through 2024.