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CaroLinks Announces $250M Intermodal Project Serving Port of Charleston

Carolina Linkages ("CaroLinks"), a supply chain and logistics provider, announced plans to create a stand-alone integrated intermodal transportation and distribution network serving the Port of Charleston, S.C. The company stated the project "addresses the need to support the port's planned growth with added capacity in ground transportation and warehousing services (and) will introduce barge, rail and highway linkages tied to strategically located warehousing and distribution centers."

CaroLinks indicated that as the first part of the planned $250 million development, it had already acquired options on 85 acres at Shipyard Creek, located adjacent to the former Navy Base. It further stated it is currently evaluating options on at least two more sites in South Carolina, including 800 acres in Orangeburg.

CaroLinks plans to barge containers from the Wando Terminal and by rail from the proposed Navy Base Terminal to its new facilities at Shipyard Creek and to various inland distribution centers.

Kenneth Riley, President of the ILA #1422 said, "CaroLinks, in my opinion, has developed a very exciting and innovative concept that addresses the needs of the shipping industry, the Port of Charleston and the business community of South Carolina and the southeast region."

The company stated it hopes to break ground by this summer and estimates completion by fall 2008.

2005 Proves Positive for Both N.C., S.C.

The value of new contracts for future construction activity moved up 4 percent in December for the North Carolina market while South Carolina surged again, by 21 percent, McGraw-Hill Construction reported recently. The monthly gains contributed to both states showing overall growth in 2005, with North Carolina activity improving by 11 percent for the year and South Carolina's up by 7 percent.

In North Carolina, December contracts totaled $1.9 billion, compared to last year's roughly $1.8 billion. Residential improved by 14 percent compared to last December and tallied $1.2 billion for the month. The value of nonresidential contracts also increased, by 18 percent, to total approximately $456.5 million. The value of nonbuilding contracts fell again, this time by 41 percent, to total approximately $218.4 million for the month, compared to last December's $369.4 million.

For 2005, North Carolina contract activity ended up 11 percent ahead of 2004, with a total value of approximately $23.8 billion. Nonresidential finished 8 percent ahead of last year's pace, with nearly $5.1 billion in new contracts. The value of residential contracts, with a $16.3 billion tally, was about 16 percent ahead of 2004. The nonbuilding sector finished 11 percent behind last year's pace, with about $2.3 billion in new contracts.

In South Carolina, December's 21 percent gain was again the result of strong growth in both the residential and nonresidential sectors. The overall total for the month was roughly $1 billion, compared to last year's $829.9 million tally. Residential contracts increased by 27 percent for the month to total roughly $673.2 million, compared to last December's $529.8 million. Nonresidential activity increased by 15 percent to total roughly $190.7 million, ahead of last December's $166.1 million. The nonbuilding sector's December tally of $137.3 million was 2 percent ahead of the same period of a year ago.

For all of 2005, the value of new contracts in South Carolina, estimated at about $12.6 billion, was 7 percent ahead of 2004's pace. Residential, at about $8.7 billion and with a 33-percent improvement over '04, was the only positive sector, however. The nonbuilding category, with a $1.2 billion total, ended the year 50 percent behind 2004's pace, while nonresidential, valued at about $2.7 billion, was down 4 percent.

Bonakemi Building New Manufacturing Facility

BonaKemi USA, a provider of hardwood floor finishing and floor care, recently announces plans to locate a U.S. manufacturing facility in Monroe, N.C. The new 87,000-sq.-ft. facility will manufacture the company's line of waterborne hardwood floor finishing products. Expected to be fully operational by end of 2006, the new plant will serve all of North America.

The new plant includes nearly 43,000 sq. ft. of plant space, more than 12,000 sq. ft. of office and support space, and allows for additional expansion.

VOA Design-Building Aircraft/Fire/Rescue Facility in Beaufort, S.C.

The Department of the Navy, Southern Division, has commissioned VOA Associates of Orlando as the designer of record for a new $5.4 million Aircraft/Fire/Rescue Facility, Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C. VOA is providing full architectural and construction administration services for the design-build project.

Completion is targeted for January.

Vulcan Materials Acquires Penrose Quarry in Western North Carolina

Vulcan Materials Co. has acquired Macon Construction's Penrose Quarry in Transylvania County, near Brevard, N.C. The quarry is now part of Vulcan's Mideast Division, which operates facilities in North Carolina, eastern South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

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