As part of our series highlighting the top construction projects in the New Orleans area for 2025, we turn the spotlight on the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) at Port NOLA, a transformative $1.8 billion development in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. This groundbreaking project is set to reshape the region’s economic landscape.

When Beth Ann Branch transitioned from Chief Commercial Officer of the Alabama Port Authority to President/CEO of the Port of New Orleans last fall, she highlighted the significant appeal of leading the LIT project as one of the factors in her move. “The Louisiana International Terminal is part of what brought me to New Orleans. It’s exciting, transformational, and is a gamechanger for our success and growth. We have a great team in place that are putting all the right plans together to push this legacy project forward, and we are looking forward to seeing the first shovels hit ground later this year,” said Branch, who assumed the role of Port NOLA President/CEO in December.

Port NOLA’s LIT will span 1,100 acres in Violet, St. Bernard Parish, and is expected to open in phases starting in 2028. Once completed, LIT will eliminate the air-draft restrictions that currently limit vessel sizes, allowing Port NOLA to serve the largest container vessels that pass through the Panama Canal. This development will increase Louisiana’s import and export capacity, providing significant economic benefits for the region.

Branch also emphasized the broader impact of the project: “This is a legacy project that will transform local families, create jobs, invest in our infrastructure, and drive economic growth across our city, region, and state, positioning Louisiana as the premier international gateway and elevating us to a level of global commerce transportation and capacity that is critical to our future operations.”

The project is expected to create 32,000 new jobs nationwide, with 18,000 jobs in Louisiana and 4,300 in St. Bernard Parish alone. Additionally, it is projected to generate more than $1 billion in new state and local tax revenue by 2050.

As the project advances, Port NOLA is currently finalizing the design and environmental review, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers handling the federal permitting process. Port NOLA VP of Infrastructure Tony Evett shared confidence in the project’s trajectory, noting, “Everything remains on schedule. What our team is most proud of so far is that in addition to getting all the permits and designs in place, we have put the much-needed time and effort into engaging with our community on how the terminal will not only be an economic win, but also a perfect fit to improve infrastructure.”

Evett further discussed how the community’s concerns are being addressed, such as the issue of traffic. Port NOLA is working on a transportation study to ensure that traffic management around the terminal will be efficient and effective. “This will all operate and work in everyone’s best interests as we move forward upon this exciting project,” he added.

The phased opening of LIT will begin in 2028, with the container terminal anticipated to open in that year, initially handling 180,000-280,000 containers in its first year. Over time, as construction continues, container throughput will increase, with the terminal expected to reach a capacity of 1.2 million containers (2 million TEUs) annually within 25 years.

LIT is being built through a historic public-private partnership with private terminal operators Ports America, based in New Jersey, and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), based in Switzerland. This collaboration has already committed over $800 million to the project, which will feature state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities to accommodate global commerce.

In addition to private investments, Port NOLA has secured significant public support. In January 2024, the Port was awarded more than $226 million in federal funding through the INFRA program, alongside a $74 million grant from the MEGA Grant Program. These grants mark the largest federal investments in a new container terminal in U.S. Department of Transportation history. Furthermore, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and the state legislature committed over $230 million in support of Port NOLA’s infrastructure projects, including LIT.

This monumental development reflects the ongoing efforts to enhance the region’s infrastructure and elevate Port NOLA’s position as a global shipping hub. The Louisiana International Terminal is set to be a key driver of economic growth in the area, making waves in global commerce for years to come.

For more information on the progress of the LIT project, follow developments on the Port NOLA website. https://portnola.com/

Originally reported by City Business Staff Reports.