Ground Breaking Held for Carolina Connector

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Carolina Connector (CCX) the intermodal transportation facility in Edgecombe County today. Officals from from the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT), CSX Corporation and the Carolinas Gateway Partnership were on hand to participate in the event.

“This intermodal facility will positively impact Eastern North Carolina and our state as a whole,” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper told the crowd. “CCX will not only bring good paying jobs to our rural areas, but also connect the region to both domestic and international markets.”

According to NCDOT Secretary Jim Trogdon, “More than 5 million people live within 120 miles of this terminal. The Carolina Connector will spur business development, divert thousands of trucks off highways and provide much-needed jobs in this fast-growing region.”

The new facility will be constructed on a 330-acre site adjacent to on the CSX mainline and will be operated by CSX. CSX is investing $40 million and the NCDOT is investing $118.1 million for land acquisition, site development and roadway construction. The project is expected to drive additional investment and could create up to 1,300 jobs.

“CSX appreciates the partnership it has developed with the N.C. Department of Transportation and we commend the state for its leadership in making this project possible,” said CSX CEO James Foote. “CSX is excited to expand its network in Rocky Mount and believes CCX will be a catalyst for economic growth and development in the eastern North Carolina region.”

Officials believe that construction should be complete in late 2020 or early 2021.