The governor of Alabama has announced plans for more than US$230m of rail upgrades to improve access to development sites and the port in Mobile.

Governor Kay Ivey’s proposals involve the creation of the A-USA Corridor, a US$231.6m (£171.5m) programme of projects across the central and southern areas of the US state.

The first phase of the A-USA Corridor initiative involves a US$71.6 million initiative to link the Port of Mobile with the McCalla Intermodal Facility near Birmingham. The 280-mile rail corridor will also link several major, each totalling more than 1,000 acres. A fourth site in Jefferson County will see the development of a 104-acre site with up to a million square-feet of warehousing under roof.

Phase One of the A-USA Corridor project involves 12 specific track, signal and yard improvements on Norfolk Southern rail lines between Mobile, Selma and Birmingham.

The A-USA Corridor involves a public-private partnership, with Norfolk Southern funding more than 50% of the project. Alabama is investing US$5 million into the project, with the remainder coming from present and future federal grants through the Alabama Department of Transportation, in partnership with Norfolk Southern.

“The A-USA Corridor is an innovative public-private partnership that will strengthen the nation’s supply chain at a critical time and boost the regional economy,” said Alan Shaw, president of Norfolk Southern. “We look forward to working with Governor Ivey and the Port of Mobile to make the A-USA Corridor an engine for job creation in Alabama for years to come.”