The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), Cheatham County, and Ingram Marine Group, Nashville, have announced a public-private partnership to develop the Ashland City River Port — a $33 million multimodal freight hub on the Cumberland River.

The 40-acre site, located at mile marker 162, will be home to a new inland port designed to handle a variety of dry goods, including cement, rebar, aluminum, and rubber. The port will be located less than 10 miles from Interstates 40 and 65, with potential for rail access to CSX via Nashville & Western Railroad.

Ingram will fund the $30 million construction of the inland port on the land identified by Cheatham County, and TDOT will contribute $3 million in state funds to build the pier.

“Strategic partnerships like this represent the kind of forward-thinking solutions essential to addressing Tennessee’s evolving infrastructure needs,” said Deputy Governor and TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley. “TDOT remains committed to exploring every opportunity to strengthen our regional and national economic competitiveness by advancing infrastructure enhancements and operational innovations that alleviate congestion and remove critical freight bottlenecks.”

Construction on Phase 1 is slated to begin in summer 2025, and will include a fixed dock, warehouse facilities, and additional site improvements. 

“Saying how incredibly excited we are to launch this project would be an understatement,” said John Roberts, CEO of Ingram Marine Group. “The Ashland City River Port will allow us to move a variety of dry goods more efficiently and effectively to better serve Tennessee businesses and residents.”

“We welcome Ingram Marine Group as a major part of the Cheatham County Industrial Park,” said Cheatham County Mayor Kerry McCarver. “Its impact will reach far beyond the Cumberland River, stretching to the Nashville region... The river port, along with the existing Cheatham Rail line and four-lane roadway into Nashville, will give the best options to bring commerce in and out of middle Tennessee.”