The Port of South Louisiana has been awarded a $13.4 million federal grant to improve efficiency, officials announced Tuesday.

The “Globalplex Multi-Modal Connections Project” includes building a new heavy capacity dock access bridge, an access road, a rail spur and a dry storage area with conveyors to move bulk material.

Louisiana’s port was one of 55 awarded similar grants nationwide, according to Sen. Bill Cassidy’s office. It’s expected to help extend the port’s use by more than 20 years and also improve efficiency standards. It will allow smoother vessel transportation and help promote agricultural exports from the state, Cassidy said.

“The Port of South Louisiana helps drive the state and national economies in a big way,” Sen. John Kennedy said. “I’m excited to see this grant create and protect jobs in LaPlace and around the region.”

The Port of South Louisiana is the largest port district by tonnage in the Western Hemisphere, handling more than 258 million short tons of cargo last year, according to port officials. More than 3,945 oceangoing vessels and 54,921 barges call at the Port of South Louisiana each year, making it the top port in the U.S. for import tonnage and total tonnage.

“Our ports are an integral component of our nation’s economic success,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao said. “As the administration continues to invest in America’s infrastructure, this program will further modernize and improve the efficiency of our waterways.”