The first shovels of dirt were turned at the former U.S. Steel site in Bessemer. And in July, after using 82,000 cubic yards of concrete and 10,000 tons of steel, Amazon’s first fulfillment center will be open for business on Powder Plant Road.

“It’s official: We’re expanding in Alabama,” said Ryan Lively, operations manager for Amazon, during the groundbreaking ceremony. Gov. Kay Ivey, Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley, U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, and members of the Jefferson County Commission helped break ground at the site.

The $325 million fulfillment center, comprising 855,000 square feet on 133 acres on Powder Plant Road, will support 1,500 jobs. Those numbers don’t include jobs from the 2,200 contractors doing work at the site. The site was owned by U.S. Steel until June, when the company sold the property to Amazon.

 

Amazon Bessemer (Project Crowne) Fun Facts:
133 acre site, over 1,700,000 cubic yards of material moved, 30,000 tons of line to stabilize the building pad and paved surfaces, over 55,000 lineal feet of storm, water and sewer piping. Over 150,000 tons of stone placed. 35,000 square feet of sidewalk. 20,000 lineal feet of curb. 50,000 square yards of asphalt.