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By Theo Burman
Live News Reporter
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Louisiana has received the go-ahead for a $2 billion megaproject to build a bridge over a portion of the Calcasieu River.
Louisiana officials announced that the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge "megaproject" had reached financial close on Thursday, allowing contractor Calcasieu Bridge Partners to start construction at Lake Charles.
The project 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, replacing the current bridge which is over 70 years old. Construction is expected to take seven years, with additional connections between the interstate and state roads and local streets.
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Louisiana's secretary of transport and development, Joe Donahue, called the project "long overdue."
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In a statement, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said: "Since I took office in January, my administration has remained committed to getting this critical project off the ground.
"Reaching the Notice to Proceed is proof of that dedication to the people of Louisiana, as well as our continued drive to improve and modernize Louisiana's infrastructure.
"Secretary Donahue and I are focused on the positive economic impacts for our state and the region with the toll profit requirements that could result in lower rates or even more infrastructure improvements."
The current bridge for Interstate 10 was built before the interstate itself, and is out of date as a result. State officials described it as too narrow, too steep, and lacking critical features such as shoulders and lighting, which are standard for modern bridges of this size.
State Senator Mark Abraham told local news outlet KPLC he was worried about the safety of the older structure, saying: "I've been focusing on the bridge and again it's all about making sure it is safe for the residents of our area, and we don't want to lose sight of that.
"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 the partnership with Calcasieu Bridge Partners in January earlier this year, with funding for the project being finalized in July. State and federal funding will cover $1.2 billion by toll revenue from the completed road.
According to the DOTD, Louisiana will retain nearly 15 percent of toll revenues after all the construction, maintenance and debt service costs have been paid, though tolls will not be collected until the new bridge is opened.
The revenue will be used to fund future infrastructure projects in Louisiana, such as highway transportation expansion in the southwest.
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