Martin Marietta announced that the Manatee County Port Authority approved a 30-year, $42-million contract with the company to build a 20-acre aggregates terminal at Port Manatee. The project will link the new facility to an existing berth with a 4,900-ft-long high-speed conveyor system.

The proposed conveyor is designed to move approximately 4,000 tons of aggregate rock per hour. Construction was set to begin in early 2010, with operations beginning within seven months.