Governor Jeff Landry (R) recently joined federal, state, and local officials at the Bord du Lac Drive Lakefront Promenade to officially break ground on the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Replacement Project.
[Above photo by the Louisiana DOTD]
The ceremony marks the official commencement of construction on a $2.3 billion public-private partnership or P3 designed to replace the existing 1950s-era Calcasieu River Bridge with a structure to meet 21st-century demands.
The innovative P3 funding model allows for expedited construction timelines and private investment. Notably, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development maintains a 15 percent equity share in the tolling revenues generated by the project, which will provide for continued infrastructure investment in the region.
“This project marks the largest transportation infrastructure investment in Louisiana history,” the governor said in a statement. “This is an exciting day for Calcasieu Parish and for the entire state.”
The Louisiana DOTD said that, while the new bridge is under construction, the current bridge and its connecting ramps will undergo strategic upgrades to ensure continued service until the new bridge opens in 2031.
Beyond the bridge itself, the project’s worklist includes:
- Reconstruction of 5.5 miles of I-10 to replace aging roadway and multiple other bridges.
- Addition of a travel lane on I-10 in each direction to increase capacity and eliminate the existing bottlenecks.
- Construction of a new elevated Sampson Street interchange to eliminate railroad crossings and facilitate predictable travel.
- Creation of an eastbound service road system between PPG Drive and Sampson Street to reduce congestion and weaving on I-10.
- Reconstruction of the I-210 westbound ramp for enhanced safety and capacity.
- Inclusion of a $10 million active transportation allowance to create new facilities for pedestrians and cyclists around the bridge.
- Dedicated maintenance of the new roadway and bridge for a 50-year term.
“Bringing modernized infrastructure to this heavily traveled section of the I-10 corridor is long overdue,” said Glenn Ledet, Louisiana DOTD secretary. “This is a huge milestone in the department’s ongoing commitment to improving and strengthening transportation throughout the state.”
“I’m thrilled to join our partners to get shovels in the ground for this project and make travel more convenient in Southwest Louisiana,” added Sean McMaster, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration.
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