Port of New Orleans Awards Terminal Build Contract

Posted by Eric Haun August 20, 2014

An aerial view of the Port's existing intermodal terminal, which will be transformed into a modern and more efficient intermodal container transfer terminal.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans awarded a $13.3 million construction contract to Metairie, La.-based Hard Rock Construction LLC today for the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal improvement project at its monthly meeting. Hard Rock Construction was the lowest of eight bidders.

The 12-acre project will result in a modern and efficient intermodal container transfer terminal to facilitate the movement of marine and rail cargo, while enhancing safety and reducing the carbon footprint of the regional and national transportation system.

“We are thrilled to see this project moving forward,” said Port President and CEO Gary LaGrange. “New Orleans is the only U.S. seaport with all six U.S. Class One railroads with 132,000 miles of connecting rail tracks. I want to again thank the entire Louisiana Congressional delegation for their support of this project, without which we would not be at this point today.”

The Port received a $16.7 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant in 2012 for the project. U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter; U.S. Reps. Cedric Richmond, Steve Scalise, John Fleming, Bill Cassidy, Charles Boustany and former U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander all voiced support for the project to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The current project includes constructing a rail yard with 10,000 linear feet of track and fiveacres of heavy-duty paving to be used for the efficient transfer of containers. The scope of the contract includes electrical, drainage and utility work, along with the installation of new water feeds to additional hydrants.

Existing rail lines currently moving cargo will be removed upon completion of the new tracks so intermodal service at the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal will not be interrupted.

With the addition of new terminal equipment estimated at $3.5 million and engineering and project management services rendered by AECOM, the total project is estimated to be $21.013 million with completion expected in February of 2016.

The Port and the Louisiana Port Construction and Development Priority Program matched 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 $4.1 million project was completed earlier this year. Combined, the $25.1 million investment is expected to create 100 permanent marine and cargo handling jobs.

portno.com