Louisiana state Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (La DOTD) announced Tuesday that plans for the $2.1 billion Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge will move forward after a public-private partnership proposal was chosen.
A press release from Gov. John Bel Edwards and the La DOTD states that Calcasieu Bridge Partners (CBP) is a joint venture of Plenary Americas US Holdings, Inc., Sacyr Infrastructure USA LLC, and Acciona Concesiones S.L.
According to filings with the Secretary of State's Office, Calcasieu Bridge Partners is a Delaware corporation with its base office in Los Angeles. The company's website describes it as "a leading long-term investor, developer and manager of public infrastructure."
The proposed project is a 5.5 mile corridor going from near Ryan Street in Lake Charles to the I-210 and I-10 interchange on the west side of Lake Charles. It will be a toll bridge; tolls will be collected after the bridge is complete, the release states.
The new bridge will be lower and therefore not as steep, have more lanes, full shoulders and roadway lighting.
KATC News also received the following joint statement from Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Chris Landry, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, Sulphur mayor Mike Danahay and Westlake Mayor Hal McMillin:
“The proposed I-10 Bridge project has been decades in the making and we firmly believe a new bridge is warranted and necessary. A vital economic and transportation conduit for the entire Gulf Coast, a new I-10 Bridge can provide for decades of sustainability for Southwest Louisiana. We are all united that we would prefer a scenario with no toll at all; however, we need to see this bridge built. If a toll for this bridge is unavoidable and necessary, the tolls suggested in this current proposal are higher than anticipated."
In addition to a new bridge and approaches, the project includes the interstate roadways and ramps, the I-10 service roads, and interchanges at PPG Drive, Sampson Street, and North Lakeshore/Ryan Street that connect the interstate to state roads and local streets.
Construction could start as early as 2024 and is anticipated to last approximately seven years.
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Souce: KATC News
