The Port of Mobile is stacking up wins this fall.
From Mobile Bay to Montgomery, cranes and tracks are being added, rails are being laid, and billions of dollars in economic energy are flowing into Alabama.
The state’s global gateway is on the rise, and recent announcements show the momentum isn’t slowing down.
Two separate but connected developments—fresh cranes for Montgomery’s intermodal facility and a nearly $60 million boost for Mobile’s own rail hub—signal that the Port is gearing up for a faster, bigger, and smarter future.
Montgomery Facility Brings Global Trade Closer
Earlier this year, the Alabama Port Authority broke ground on the Montgomery Intermodal Container Transfer Facility (ICTF).
Now, it’s welcoming the heavy lifters that will keep the place moving: two rubber-tired gantry cranes from Konecranes.
These cranes, scheduled for delivery in late 2026, will be the backbone of the terminal, shifting containers smoothly between rail and truck.
It’s a $100 million project fueled by federal funding, partnerships with CSX, and years of planning.
By the time it goes live in 2027, the Montgomery hub will link Central Alabama directly into global trade lanes, offering industries far inland the kind of access once reserved for coastal cities.
It’s a play for speed, efficiency, and growth—and it’s already sparking billions in private investment nearby.
Mobile’s Intermodal Hub Gets Its Upgrade
Meanwhile, back at the waterfront, Mobile’s own Intermodal Container Transfer Facility is set for a major facelift.
APM Terminals Mobile, alongside the Alabama Port Authority, announced a $58.6 million investment to expand capacity and modernize infrastructure.
Two massive rail-mounted gantry cranes are on the way, along with two 3,000-foot working tracks.
Together, they’ll expand the rail yard’s ability to handle more freight, faster, and with greater reliability.
Brian Harold, managing director of APM Terminals Mobile, summed it up: this upgrade is about strengthening the Port’s connectivity and giving industries a direct, streamlined path to U.S. and Canadian markets.
In other words, the tracks laid here don’t just stop at Alabama—they connect to a continent.
Billions in the Pipeline
These rail projects are part of a much bigger picture.
The Port Authority is juggling a portfolio of improvements that read like a megaproject wish list: a $366 million deepening and widening of the channel, a $109 million container terminal expansion, another $100 million berth expansion on deck, and the Montgomery facility already under construction at nearly $100 million.
Put together, these projects reinforce Alabama’s competitive edge in global logistics.
They also create ripple effects—jobs, construction activity, and new opportunities for industries to grow closer to home rather than ship freight elsewhere.
Alabama’s Gateway to the World
When people think of ports, they often picture coastal cities. What’s happening in Alabama rewrites that story.
The Port of Mobile is building a network that stretches far inland, linking farms, factories, and distribution centers directly into international shipping lanes.
That means faster turnaround times, fewer bottlenecks, and a state positioned as a true trade gateway for the Southeast.
With cranes arriving, tracks expanding, and channels deepening, Alabama’s port system is entering a new era—one that blends local grit with global reach.
If you’d like to check out other news stories, hop over to our news corner.
