Steel Dynamics Inc. (SDI) and the Lowndes County Port Authority are advancing a $14 million rail project linking the West Bank Port on Old Macon Road to SDI’s steel mill west of Columbus, Mississippi. The new rail spur will improve the transport of scrap metal and reduce highway truck traffic.
The project includes a 10,000-foot rail line connecting to the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC) network. Once complete, the new line will enable up to 35 rail cars to move scrap metal directly from the port to SDI’s plant near Golden Triangle Regional Airport. The system is expected to boost annual scrap deliveries from 600,000 to more than 1 million tons.
The U.S. Maritime Administration awarded the Port Authority a $6.1 million Port Infrastructure Development Program grant in 2023. SDI will contribute the remaining $8 million toward design and construction. Neel-Schaffer serves as the engineering firm for the project.
Design work is scheduled for completion by late 2025, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and finish by the end of 2027. The rail connection will improve operational efficiency, enhance roadway safety, and expand freight capacity for the regional steel and logistics industry.