The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced Tuesday that it had received an additional $97.8 million in federal highway funding.
Every year, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) allocates funds not used by other states. DOTD has consistently used 100 percent of its obligated funding and is eligible to receive additional funding, which it requested earlier this year.
“Our administration has worked to maximize federal funding for transportation projects since the day I took office in 2016,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said. “This year’s redistributed funds of $97.8 million is the largest the state has ever received. It is a testament to DOTD’s efforts to use every bit of its obligated federal funding. These additional funds will help the state move many projects forward.”
DOTD said it will use those funds on projects that meet FHWA guidelines and are close to starting.
“From widening highways to rehabilitating and replacing bridges, this $97.8 million will go a long way toward making Louisiana’s roadways better,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “Our infrastructure has many needs, and the department will use the redistributed funds to address these needs on projects across the state. Being able to use redistributed funds to leverage the unprecedented level of funding is key to ensuring a safer driving experience for motorists throughout Louisiana.”
The funds, DOTD officials said, will allow the department to finance construction projects sooner than anticipated and which will, in turn, advance other projects.