U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) and the Louisiana Congressional delegation urged U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Pete Buttigieg Thursday to approve the state’s application for an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to replace the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge.
In a letter to Buttigieg, the delegation said replacing the bridge would alleviate congestion and increase safety.
“This project meets INFRA Grant standards in that it is focused on alleviating serious congestion issues on a highly traveled corridor,” the delegation wrote. “Specifically, the interstate segment encompassing the project area experiences a reduction in travel lanes from six to four lanes of traffic, leading to bottlenecking, time delays, and increased safety risks. While at this time the bridge is structurally sound, it lacks modern safety features. If awarded, combined with the State’s commitment of $85 million, the INFRA grant will enable leveraging gap financing through a Private-Public Partnership (P3).”
Higgins was joined by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) and John Kennedy (R-LA), and U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Garret Graves (R-LA), Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Julia Letlow (R-LA).
The Calcasieu River Bridge opened in 1952 and was designed for 37,000 crossings a day with a 50-year life span. Currently, at nearly 70 years old, the bridge averages more than 80,000 crossings a day. The expansion project for the bridge would replace the bridge and expand about nine miles of roadway before and after it.
The Congressional delegation argued that the expansion was necessary to meet the needs of the energy exports in the area.
“This region of Louisiana is quickly becoming a global leader in energy exports, contributing to American energy dominance,” the letter said. “In 2020 alone, Southwest Louisiana has completed $40 billion in industrial projects with another $60 billion in projects pending. Adding additional lanes would expand the capabilities of the I-10 corridor, which is vital for Southwest Louisiana, Houston, and New Orleans. With strategic investment in Southwest Louisiana’s infrastructure needs, we can unlock its full potential, benefiting the entire nation.”