A US$600m toll road has been proposed in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana, to support the development of a major new container terminal aimed at boosting freight capacity and strengthening the state’s position in global trade.
The proposed St Bernard Transportation Corridor would create an elevated roadway linking the planned Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) in Violet, Louisiana, with Interstate 510.
Designed to manage a significant increase in freight traffic generated by the terminal, the corridor would also provide an additional hurricane evacuation route for the region.
Michael Hecht, coordinator for the port project, described the development as “the Super Bowl of infrastructure”, adding: “It’s essential to the future of trade.”
The 400-acre LIT forms part of a broader US$2bn infrastructure investment strategy led by the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA).
Federal funding of US$300m has been secured through the US Department of Transportation’s Infrastructure for Rebuilding America and MEGA grant programmes to support early phases of the project.
Once operational, the terminal is expected to handle more than two million twenty-foot equivalent units annually — more than doubling the region’s current container capacity — and accommodate ultra-large container vessels that existing facilities cannot serve due to height restrictions.
The increase in port throughput is expected to significantly raise freight traffic volumes in the region, underpinning the need for new transport infrastructure.
Brandy D Christian, president and CEO of Port NOLA, said: “The Louisiana International Terminal is a transformative project that will ensure Louisiana remains competitive in global shipping.
“Our focus is on delivering modern infrastructure while working closely with the community to address local concerns.”
To finance and deliver the toll road, the Port NOLA Board of Commissioners has engaged global consultancy WSP USA to develop a public-private partnership (PPP) strategy.
The PPP model is expected to combine public funding with private sector investment, leveraging long-term concession agreements and toll revenue streams to finance construction, maintenance and operations of the corridor.
Max Nassar, senior vice president at WSP USA, said: “The St Bernard Transportation Corridor represents a vital investment in regional mobility and trade efficiency.
“We are proud to work alongside Port NOLA to structure a solution that balances financial viability with stakeholder engagement.”
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The tolling element of the project is seen as key to its funding model, with user charges expected to support debt servicing and operational costs over the life of the concession.
For tolling and road-user charging professionals, the project reflects a growing trend in the USA toward user-financed transport infrastructure, particularly for freight-driven corridors.
The corridor’s design and funding are being developed in parallel with the terminal, with Port NOLA targeting a 2025 start date for construction and 2028 for operations.
Port NOLA will maintain ownership of the terminal under a landlord port model, with operations leased to a joint venture between Terminal Investment Limited – the investment arm of Mediterranean Shipping Company – and Ports America, one of the largest terminal operators in North America.
The wider LIT project also incorporates sustainability elements, including shore power facilities for ships, electric cargo-handling equipment, and enhanced container-on-barge services to reduce truck traffic and emissions.
Direct links to six Class I railroads and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway are intended to facilitate a shift towards greener, multimodal freight transport.
However, the project has not been without opposition. Residents, community leaders and school officials have raised concerns about potential displacement of families, historic sites and public infrastructure.
“We don’t want to rearrange our life for this project or for no one else because this is our parish,” said St Bernard Parish councilman Fred Everhardt.
Despite the concerns, a Louisiana Senate committee has approved the toll road proposal, allowing it to proceed to the full Senate for further consideration.
The decision follows an earlier House transportation committee hearing that backed Port NOLA’s request to advance land acquisitions for the corridor.
If completed, the Louisiana International Terminal and the St Bernard Transportation Corridor are expected to significantly expand Louisiana’s role as a logistics and trade gateway, while providing critical new road infrastructure to support freight growth and regional mobility.
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