$12M-plus Iuka, MS, inland port upgrade will help waterway traffic get to Gulf of Mexico
Ross Reily- Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced a $12 million investment to upgrade the Yellow Creek State Inland Port.
- The upgrades aim to modernize infrastructure and enhance the state's waterway network, connecting 17 states and 14 river systems.
- The project is funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Mississippi's Multimodal Infrastructure Fund, and the Yellow Creek State Port Authority.
Gov. Tate Reeves has announced a new $12 million initiative to upgrade the Yellow Creek State Inland Port in Iuka, Mississippi.
The investment, which is $12,857,143, is meant to modernize the multimodal commerce along the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and strengthen Mississippi’s waterway network, which spans 17 states and 14 major river systems, according to a statement from Reeves. “This investment is a vital step in modernizing our port infrastructure and ensuring that Mississippi remains competitive in the global marketplace,” Reeves said in his statement. “By renovating and expanding a key inland port, we are not only doubling its operational capacity but also reducing shipping costs and increasing efficiency — benefiting local businesses, creating jobs, and further solidifying Mississippi’s economic future.”Some of the improvements to the Yellow Creek State Inland Port:
- Renovation of the existing 400-foot transload dock and additional 212 feet to handle increased loads.
- Installation of four new mooring cells and essential rail modifications to streamline intermodal transfers across water, rail, and truck networks.
- Upgrades to concrete pavement to support increased freight tonnage.
- 700-ton material handling crane that will double the current lift capacity, significantly cutting barge processing times.
Funding for the project came from Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies. ARC is investing $9,000,000 which is being matched by $2,500,000 from the Mississippi State Multimodal Infrastructure Fund and $1,357,143 from the Yellow Creek State Port Authority.
The Yellow Creek State Inland Port is located near the convergence of the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway, which leads to the Gulf of Mexico. It links the Gulf with markets throughout the Appalachian Region and beyond.
“By investing in our port infrastructure, we are setting the stage for a new era of economic transformation in Mississippi and the entire Appalachian Region,” Reeves said in his remarks. “This project exemplifies our commitment to creating resilient, future-ready infrastructure that drives job growth and attracts new investment.”
Ross Reily is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
