Governor Jeff Landry testified before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, urging the new Congress to provide more federal dollars for an improved interstate system, including new bridges for Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. Landry says a new Mississippi River bridge in the capital city is desperately needed to alleviate congestion on Interstate 10.
“We need the Federal Government’s help to basically eliminate that congestion. but more importantly, to help move those goods back and forth,” Landry said.
Landry says a modernized interstate system will boost the economy. He says a recent report found Louisiana will experience the third largest freight growth in the nation. The governor says connecting I-49 from Shreveport to New Orleans has been discussed since the early 1980s.
“The completion of this project helps everyone in the Middle States of America. And it also serves as a very important Hurricane Evacuation Route. It has not been completed,” Landry explained.
The state is moving forward on building a new I-10 bridge in Lake Charles, but tolls will help pay for the $2.3 billion-dollar project. Landry says if the state can receive more federal dollars, he can lower the tolls.
“Help us secure additional funding so we can lower the toll on the commercial traffic that’s going to flow over that bridge. The tolls that we are going to have to implement are certainly what I would not like them to be, and y’all can help,” Landry said.
The tolls will range from $2.55 to $12.26 for commercial trucks depending on their size and whether it has a toll tags. Local motorists would pay 25 cents to cross the bridge while automobiles from the outside the area will pay anywhere from $1.25 to $3.75.
House Transportation Chairman Sam Graves says one of their priorities is to reauthorize the nation’s surface transportation programs, but that doesn’t mean everyone will get everything they want.
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