Vicksburg and Warren County file eminent domain to acquire land for new port

The City of Vicksburg and Warren County, acting together, have initiated eminent domain proceedings to purchase the remaining 20 properties necessary for the creation of a public port complex.

“These eminent domain proceedings, while not entered into lightly, were the last resort to acquire the necessary property at fair market value to ensure that this important project comes to fruition for the benefit of the citizens of Vicksburg and Warren County,” officials said in a joint statement.

The proposed port project entails a new public port, a levee and other flood control measures to ensure the viability of that port, as well as surrounding infrastructure like access roads and rail line extensions.

“Our existing port has been at maximum capacity for some time and our region desperately needs additional inland port infrastructure,” officials said.

Planning and discussion of a new South Port in Vicksburg has been ongoing for three years.

“The City of Vicksburg and Warren County stand ready to invest in the infrastructure of a new public port complex to ensure that our people are well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities the river affords them, and to guarantee that Vicksburg and Warren County remain at the forefront of river-based transportation and commerce well into the future.”