The Board of Commissioners of the Port of South Louisiana (POSL) requests funding of $13,410,662 from the 2019 PID Grant Program for the Globalplex Multi-Modal Connections Project (Project). The requested PID funding represents a critical source of funding for this project.

The POSL is a deep-water port situated in the immediate vicinity of the Gulf of Mexico, near major roadways and three railways. It is the largest tonnage port district in the United States, and it is the premier sea gateway for U.S. export and import traffic. Located within the POSL is the intermodal facility Globalplex, a modern, 335-acre maritime industrial park that currently includes multimodal connections to the Canadian National (CN) Railway, local roads and state and interstate highways, local and international airports, and the Mississippi River, all providing various methods of cargo transport. The facility has three docks, which include a general cargo dock, a finger pier, and a deep-draft bulk terminal dedicated to handling cement, mineral ores, woodchips, garnet sand, and other heavy materials. Globalplex is the only public facility within the jurisdiction of the POSL.
The proposed Project consists of the construction of five separate components: heavier load capacity floor at Building 71, conveyor improvements, access road rehabilitation, rail spur connection, and dock access bridge/access road. The Project has strong support from local communities, local and state agencies, elected local and state officials, and private business. The Project’s main outcomes are to bring Globalplex to a state of good repair, to incorporate efficiency improvements in the facility transportation network, and to promote agricultural exports.

The proposed Port of South Louisiana Globalplex Multi-Modal Connections Project is a fully intermodal project that will include a new heavy capacity dock access bridge, an access road, a rail spur, and a dry storage area with conveyors to move bulk material. Once completed, it will allow the efficient storage and transport of bulk and break-bulk material by rail, water and truck. This facility will facilitate nearby industrial development by allowing the dry storage and transloading of various construction materials. The project also complements existing port projects currently underway, including dock reinforcement and new mobile harbor cranes.