US government backs Port MacKenzie rail connection

The US Department of Transportation has awarded nearly US$250 million to the Alaska Railroad Corporation for the construction of a new freight rail connection to Port MacKenzie. The funding was awarded through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant Programme. New rail connection to Port MacKenzie The project will construct approximately 32 miles of railway connecting Port MacKenzie with the Alaska Railroad’s main line. According to the US Department of Transportation, the new rail connection will support the movement of Alaska’s mineral and energy resources while improving access to the port from the state’s interior. The infrastructure is expected to reduce freight distances, shipping times and transportation costs.