U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy visited Burns Harbor, Ind., June 19 to see firsthand recent expansion projects by the Ports of Indiana there and highlight the strategic connections between the Great Lakes and inland waterways.
Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor, located within a 12-hour drive of 80 percent of the U.S. population, is a multimodal hub that connects the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway to the Illinois Waterway via Lake Michigan. The port complex is served by Class I railroads and connects to eight highways.
“The Great Lakes and inland waterways are vital arteries for America’s freight network — and I saw that firsthand at the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor,” Duffy said. “Under President Trump, the Great Lakes region is finally getting the support it deserves. I look forward to working alongside our port partners to modernize cargo terminals, create good-paying jobs, and fuel the manufacturers, farmers, and small businesses that deliver for the American people.”
Ports of Indiana officials celebrated work under Duffy’s leadership to expand the Maritime Administration’s United States Marine Highway Program, including the M-90 on the Great Lakes, and invest close to $800 million through the recently announced Port Infrastructure Development Program grants.
“We are grateful for Secretary Duffy’s strong leadership and unwavering support of America’s maritime transportation system, and we are honored to welcome him to Indiana to see firsthand the transformational investments underway across our ports and throughout the Great Lakes region,” said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “Federal transportation grants have served as catalysts for unprecedented growth in Indiana’s three ports, creating jobs, driving investments, and strengthening supply chains. We look forward to working with Secretary Duffy to advance America’s Maritime Action Plan and further capitalize on the tremendous economic opportunities offered by the Great Lakes and inland waterways.”
Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor is in the process of building an international container terminal that will feature 9,000 linear feet of dock space and 10 berths, connecting global markets to the Chicago area. The port’s ongoing $100 million expansion includes new docks, new rail infrastructure, and one of the largest grain export facilities on the Great Lakes.
With facilities in Burns Harbor on Lake Michigan, Jeffersonville on the Ohio River, and Mount Vernon near the Ohio’s confluence with the Mississippi River, Ports of Indiana generates $8.7 billion in annual economic impact. The state claims the top Great Lakes maritime economy, with its border along Lake Michigan, and the top inland port in the country, with its facilities along the lower Ohio River.
