The Port of New Orleans said its board of commissioners has given notice to AECOM Technical Services 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 railyard that serves the adjacent container terminal. The new rail yard will be re-configured and modernized into an efficient intermodal container transfer facility (ICTF), the port said.
Construction will begin in December and is expected to take 12 months to complete.
Gary LaGrange, the port’s president and chief executive officer, said the 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 port and the Louisiana Port Construction and Development Priority Program are matching a portion of the federal grant to build an adjacent four-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 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 and is expected to create 100 permanent marine and cargo handling jobs. – Chris Dupin
New Orleans to start intermodal terminal work in December
