Officials have announced that the green light for construction to begin at the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge “megaproject” has been given after a financial close was reached on Thursday.
The project, expected to cost $2 billion (£1.5bn) aims to build a 5.5-mile corridor from near Ryan Street in Lake Charles to the I-210 and I-10 interchange in Westlake.
Construction is expected to take seven years, with additional connections between the interstate, state roads and local streets.
The new bridge will replace the current bridge which is over 70 years old, a project which has been described by Louisiana’s Secretary of Transport and Development, Joe Donahue, called “long overdue”.
“Since I took office in January, my administration has remained committed to getting this critical project off the ground,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry in a statement.
“Reaching the Notice to Proceed is proof of that dedication to the people of Louisiana, as well as our continued drive to improve and modernise Louisiana’s infrastructure.”
Landry added that he and Donahue were focused on positive economic impacts for their state and region, with toll profit requirements that could result in lower rates and further infrastructure improvements.
The current bridge for Interstate 10 was built before the interstate itself. Today, state officials describe it as too narrow, too steep and lacking in critical features such as shoulders and lightning which are standard for bridges of this size today.
Republican State Senator Mark Abraham told KPLC that he had shared his concerns over the safety of the old bridge, saying “I think our job as the legislator is to protect the people and if you have a bridge that could be faulty or is nearing its end of life, you want to make sure you do everything to make sure that nothing happens to that bridge.”
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) signed a partnership with Calcasieu Bridge Partners in January, with funding for the project having been finalised in July. State and federal funding will cover $1.2 billion (£927 million) by toll revenue from the completed road, said Newsweek.
According to the DOTD, the state will retain nearly 15 percent of toll revenues after all construction, maintenance and debt service costs have been paid, though tolls will not be collected until the new bridge is opened.
The revenue will then be reinvested to fund future infrastructure projects in Louisiana, including a highway transportation expansion in the southwest.
“Tens of thousands of motorists cross the outdated existing bridge every day,” Donahue said. “A new bridge is long overdue, and clearing this hurdle puts our state closer than ever to seeing construction on this essential project.”
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