Technical Services Inc. to begin the design of the Port’s new Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal
Project.
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 ofsupport forthe 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.
