Port of South Louisiana, Dow Chemical Team on Rail Yard Project

The Port of South Louisiana has completed a six-track rail yard for Dow Chemical, which entered into a 20-year lease agreement with the Port.

The agreement includes a renewal option for an additional 10 years.

The yard, to be used for railcar maintenance and storage of 250-350 cars, is located at SoLaPort, a Port-owned property on the west bank of the Mississippi River, in St. Charles Parish, La. Dow Chemical designed and installed a rail spur on the facility’s south side.

AECOM designed the yard in compliance with Dow Chemical and Union Pacific standards. In January 2020, Barriere Construction began installation of a 2,000 square-yard two-track railcar storage and maintenance pad, with related infrastructure, including an access road from LA Highway 18; more than 27,000 feet of track connecting to the rail spur; switches; security fencing along the perimeter of the leased property; and lighting.

The project was funded in part by $8.775 million from Louisiana’s Capital Outlay program, according to the Port of South Louisiana.

“This project is exemplary of the multi-modal opportunities along our 54-mile port jurisdiction,” Port of South Louisiana Executive Director Paul Aucoin said. “Although the Mississippi River is our anchor resource, the rail systems, roads and air facilities we have complement the extraordinary work done at the Port of South Louisiana. We are pleased to partner with Dow in order to enhance their operations.”

“Dow is excited about the completion of the railroad and the partnership with the Port of South Louisiana,” Dow Chemical Site Director Jackie Yaworski said. “With rail volumes increasing, this gives us the ability to store more railcars on site and lower our shipping costs.”