The 12-acre project will feature 10,000 linear ft of rail track and five acres of heavy duty paving to accommodate the transfer of intermodal containers between ships, trucks and trains. Hard Rock Construction will also install electrical, drainage and utility systems along with new water feeds for additional fire hydrants.

Port of New Orleans spokesperson Matt Gresham says the project is part of the ongoing expansion of the Napoleon Ave. container terminal, which was constructed in 2004. The addition and expansion will help meet the needs of the port which is experience growth in traffic and volume.

"The new yard will also feature electrical switch gear and conduits for us to install giant gantry cranes to move containers," says Gresham.

Gresham says the existing rail lines and yard was originally purchased from Southern Railroad. The new lines will be located closer to the port and the old ones will be removed once the new line is operational.

"What we had wasn't the most efficient operation. We're remodeling the entire yard with the best design and the latest and greatest equipment to make it as efficient as possible," he says.

The terminal was designed by engineering and design firm AECOM and is expected to be completed in February 2016. The Port of New Orleans is paying for the project with the help of a $16.7 million grant through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Program.