The Port received a $16.7 million federal transportation grant last year for improvements to the Napoleon Avenue Intermodal Terminal. The project site is an existing 12-acre rail yard that services the adjacent Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal. The new rail yard will be re-configured and modernized into an efficient intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF).
Construction will begin in December and is expected to take 12 months to complete.
“The Port of New Orleans is the only U.S. seaport with six Class One railroads serving it, which includes 132,000 miles of connecting rail tracks,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. “This critical project will facilitate the movement of marine and rail cargo, stimulate international commerce and enhance safety all while reducing the carbon footprint of the regional and national transportation systems. The entire maritime community is thrilled to see this project come to fruition and I want to thank the entire Louisiana congressional delegation for their unwavering support.”
U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter; U.S. Reps. Cedric Richmond, Steve Scalise, John Fleming, Rodney Alexander, Bill Cassidy and Charles Boustany; and former U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry – all wrote letters of support for the project to Sec. of Transportation Ray LaHood.
The Port and the Louisiana Port Construction and Development Priority Program are matching a portion of the federal grant to build an adjacent 4-acre container marshalling yard at the upriver end of the Louisiana Avenue Terminal. The Board awarded a $3.7 million construction contract to Metairie, La.-based Hard Rock Construction LLC for the new paved yard. Construction began on the marshalling yard this month and is expected to be completed by December. The overall cost for both projects is estimated to be $26 million, creating 100 permanent marine and cargo handling jobs and more than 280 temporary construction-related jobs.
Caption for photo:
A container is loaded onto a rail car at the Port of New Orleans’ Napoleon Avenue Intermodal Terminal recently. The 12-acre terminal will be reconfigured and modernized into a more efficient intermodal container transfer facility to enhance the Port’s freight rail capabilities.