Construction is underway on the second phase of elevating LA 1 in Lafourche Parish between the Leeville Bridge to Golden Meadow. Executive Director of the LA 1 coalition Henri Boulet says once the project is completed in 2027, vehicles who use this important corridor will travel 22-feet above sea level.
“Not only the energy industry sector, but also our fishery sectors, both recreational and commercial fisheries, our tourism sector, tons of people go to Grand Isle all summer long,” said Boulet.
The price tag for the elevated stretch of highway is over 800-million dollars. Boulet says the project received a large amount of federal grant money as a result of 20 private industry partners providing over a million dollars in match money.
“I think that helped the LA 1 project win the largest INFRA grant in the nation in 2020, because we had such a strong application,” said Boulet.
Boulet says there’s been a serious effort to elevate LA-1 for 25 years as storm surge from hurricanes and tropical storms can close the highway for several days, costing the U.S. millions of dollars in oil and gas production.
“It’s a very important corridor it’s going to keep that access to the coast around for generations to come,” said Boulet.
The state department of transportation says over 13-hundred trucks and heavy vehicles travel the LA 1 southern corridor daily to support port activity and energy production, but it’s often closed for several days after tropical storms and hurricanes.
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