A company that employs 750 people in Minden is threatening to relocate to east Texas if the state does not upgrade several bridges in the area that have structural problems.
Fibrebond builds huge structures that can measure 16 by 75 feet and weigh 150,000 pounds, making them ineligible to cross de-rated bridges. Department of Transportation spokesperson Rodney Mallett says they’re meeting with the company today to try to find a resolution.
“We are trying to find alternate routes that they can use and also see what we can do with repairs to some of the local bridges in that area.”
Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker told KEEL the state is littered with de-rated bridges, and the only routes DOTD can find force his company to make a substantial detour to ship items west.
“From our facility in Minden we go west to Dixie Inn, north to Sarepta, east to Bernice, south to Ruston-Jonesborough-Winnfield, then cross the Tenaha (Bridge). 247 miles.”
Fibrebond is a Louisiana owned and operated company that’s been open for the last 37 years.
Mallett says the state has some funds set aside to hopefully keep the major employer from crossing into Texas.
“We got 40 million dollars from the Deepwater Horizon settlement for improvement to state-owned bridges. Then we received an additional 50 million from the federal highway commission.”
Walker warns a new round of de-ratings of bridges could make that route even more convoluted or block the company from being able to ship from Minden at all. He’d like to stay in Louisiana, but, “We’ve got customers across the country that don’t really care about Louisiana infrastructure issues, they want their product on time and on their site when they need it. So, we have no way to get out.”
Walker says the company has already begun receiving offers from east Texas communities and the state of Texas to assist in a potential move.
