CenterPoint Intermodal Center
CenterPoint Intermodal Center is an intermodal freight terminal in Elwood, Illinois, and the largest inland port in North America. It combines a 785-acre Union Pacific complex near Joliet and a 770-acre BNSF complex to the southwest. The site sits on land that was part of the Joliet Army Ammunition Plant; construction began after 2000 as part of Joliet Arsenal redevelopment, with Elwood providing $150 million in tax increment financing (TIF). As freight traffic grew, nearby communities complained about safety, traffic, and noise. In 2014 Elwood tried to enforce designated truck routes, but CenterPoint fought in court. Elwood also sued CenterPoint over TIF funds, saying the project generated less revenue and fewer jobs than promised. Mayor Bill Offerman said, "Instead of a vibrant retail base, good-paying jobs and needed tax dollars that it promised, CenterPoint has given us a barrage of heavy truck traffic that puts residents in harm's way, low-paying warehouse jobs that make it impossible for middle-class families to live on and a mere fraction of the revenue it touted the village would receive in return."
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:56 (CET).