The Edwards administration announces its using 216 million dollars in federal coronavirus stimulus money on road and infrastructure projects. The money was approved by Congress in December and Governor John Bel Edwards says improving the state’s roads and bridges have been a priority of his administration.
“This is funding is greatly going to benefit Louisiana’s transportation system and help push forward some much-needed repairs and improvements and projects that have been on the books for a while,” said Edwards.
The federal money replaces lost gas tax revenue the state experienced last year because fewer people traveled as a result of the pandemic.
Louisiana Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson says 50-million dollars will go towards connecting Lafayette to New Orleans by extending I-49 south.
“We’re allocating money to the I-49 connector project in Lafayette that is expected to soon complete its environmental process and that will be the first portion of funds dedicated directly into construction,” said Wilson.
Wilson says another 20-million dollars will go towards widening I-10 in Ouachita Parish.
He says federal law is also requiring them to use 11-million dollars on installing electric vehicle charging stations statewide.
“It’s a national initiative of President Biden and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to prepare us for the onslaught of electric vehicles and developing charging stations for fleets is a major portation of that,” said Wilson.
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