Rep. Norcross Announces $750,000 for South Jersey Port Infrastructure Improvements

CAMDEN CITY, NJ – U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) today announced $750,000 in new funding that the congressman secured in the FY 2023 omnibus package. The money will be used to stabilize Berth 1 at the Balzano Marine Terminal so the port can meet increasing business activity.

“The ‘liquid highway’ that is the Delaware River is an economic lifeline for South Jersey and the surrounding region,” said Congressman Norcross. “By investing in our critical infrastructure, we are increasing the capacity of our ports and local businesses to access markets not just here in South Jersey, but across the country. Additionally, this funding will create good-paying jobs. I’m proud to have fought for this funding in Congress and look forward to seeing the positive economic impact this project has on our region.”

“We want to thank Congressman Norcross for his advocacy in Washington and his ongoing support of our mission at the South Jersey Ports,” said Andy Saporito, executive director and CEO of the South Jersey Port Corporation. “This investment directly translates into job retention and creation – from the construction workers who will build it, to the dockworkers loading and unloading ships, to the truckers hauling the cargo, to jobs in the industries on the end of the supply chain. It’s a multiplier that is great for our link in the global supply chain.”

“The Port of Camden is one of the busiest along the east coast, so this funding will go a long way to ensure it remains an economic engine,” said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen. “I am grateful to Congressman Donald Norcross for fighting for this critical funding, grateful for his commitment to invest in much needed infrastructure upgrades, and grateful for new employment opportunities coming to Camden and this region.”

The funding is one of 15 local projects Congressman Norcross secured funding for in the FY 2023 omnibus funding package. In total, he brought back over $10 million in community project funding for New Jersey’s 1^st Congressional District.

About the Infrastructure Improvements at Berth 1 of Balzano Marine Terminal

Berth 1, which is adjacent to the location of the Battleship New Jersey, has been progressively collapsing over the past 20 years, rendering the structure unsafe and off-limits for use. At the west wall of the adjacent Transit Shed 1 building, which is used to store cargo and load rail cars, voids have developed due to the washout of the shoreline. The recent surge in business activity necessitates these repairs to enable the Port to better utilize the shed for cargo storage and transfer to rail cars for transcontinental delivery.

The scope of work will entail removing the northern portion of existing collapsed Berth 1 material and placing riprap stone to reestablish shoreline stability, thus preventing further washout of the material and voids from forming at the existing west side of the Transit Shed 1 building. This early-action construction project is part of a planned program for the Balzano Marine Terminal berth improvement program when additional funding sources become available.

About the South Jersey Port Corporation

The South Jersey Port Corporation was created in 1968 to operate marine shipping terminals in the South Jersey Port District which consists of seven counties: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland, Mercer, and Cape May. The SJPC is a quasi-state agency, which reports through the Department of Treasury to the Governor of New Jersey.

The purpose of this state-created corporation is to provide meaningful public employment, tax ratables, and business incentives to the South Jersey region. The SJPC owns and operates the Joseph A. Balzano and Broadway Marine Terminals in the Port of Camden, the Salem Marine Terminal at the Port of Salem, and is constructing the second phase of Paulsboro Marine Terminal at the Port of Paulsboro.