The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) has approved a contract for the Programme Management and Programme Control Services to HDR Engineering, Inc, as part of a multi-year due diligence and permitting process for the new Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) container terminal facility.
Progress on the container terminal project to date includes land acquisition in December 2020, initiation of the permitting process in June 2021, an award to AECOM for preliminary design and permitting support in July 2021, and ongoing engagement with industry and community stakeholders, according to NOLA.
Next steps will include consideration and evaluation of a potential terminal operator and financial partners.
Brandy D. Christian, president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans and President of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, said, “We are working to deliver a state-of-the-art container terminal that meets the evolving needs of the shipping industry and serves as an economic catalyst for the state and region.
“A project of this magnitude requires experienced program management for successful coordination of studies and design needed for a quality project.
“HDR Engineering’s qualifications include broad expertise, a team that has worked together on similar large container port projects, and the deep resources of a global firm with local connections.”
The company said HDR Engineering, Inc., will serve as the technical lead for services that include, in part: terminal operation and related transportation development, risk management, procurement support, budget and schedule management, permitting and stakeholder coordination, and environmental compliance.
The project would occupy approximately 350-acres with a 3,500-linear-foot wharf within more than 1,000 acres of developable green-field property.
The site, located within the federal government’s $14 billion flood protection system, features naturally deep-draft riverfront acreage, a 50-foot Mississippi River Channel, documented ability to navigate ships with a capacity up to 23,000 TEU.
Transportation infrastructure projects that accommodate industry and St. Bernard Parish needs beyond the terminal footprint would be coordinated for maximum positive impact, including the vision of a dedicated truck route.
