The Port of Coos Bay in Oregon is just one of three major ports on the West Coast, so improvements to it are always welcomed.

Earlier this month, the port entered into a memorandum of understanding with NorthPoint Development to build the new facility, with negotiations being finalized and a contract expected to be signed by the end of the year, KCBY reports. 

The new, multimodal terminal will have more than one million 40-foot containers go through it annually and utilize the Coos Bay Rail Line to transport cargo. Rail spurs will also be extended to the North Spit of the bay where the new terminal will be constructed.

Along with increasing capacity at the port, the project is expected to bring in 500 short-term construction jobs and as many as 250 permanent, full-time jobs with wages to support a family. 

"I think the significance of it is that they're planning to utilize our rail line so heavily," Margaret Barber, the director of external affairs with the Port of Coos Bay, told KCBY. "As part of this project what's really exciting is that not only are they going to be developing the container terminal, they're also going to be helping us to make some significant improvements to our rail infrastructure."

As the outlet notes, the idea for such a facility was floated in the past, but the recession of 2008 threw a wet towel on potential plans.

With a shortage of ports on the West Coast, congestion has been increasing over the past decades and the coronavirus pandemic has worsened the situation.

"LA Long Beach last weekend and had 47 ships anchored offshore waiting to get to berth and that's not good from an environmental perspective especially, but you know its creating huge delays that are adding cost for shippers so people are looking for another solution and we think we can really offer that here."

Permitting for the project is expected to take about two years and construction two or three, Barber told the outlet.