Louisiana officials announced that the $2 billion Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge reached financial close on Thursday, giving them the green light on the megaproject.
The project will build a 5.5-mile corridor from Lake Charles to the Interstate 210 and I-10 interchange in Westlake. This will replace the current 70-year-old bridge. Construction is expected to take seven years. Additional connections will be constructed between the interstate and state roads and local streets.
The current bridge was built before the Interstate. As a result, it is out of date. Officials has described it as too narrow, too steep and lacking critical features such as shoulders and lighting.
In an interview with KPLC, State Sen. Mark Abraham said he was worried about the safety of the current structure.
"I've been focusing on the bridge and again it's all about making sure it is safe for the residents of our area, and we don't want to lose sight of that,” Abraham said. "I think our job as the legislator is to protect the people and if you have a bridge that could be faulty or is nearing its end of life, you want to make sure you do everything to make sure that nothing happens to that bridge."
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) partnered with Calcasieu Bridge Partners earlier this year. State and federal funding will cover $1.2 billion by toll revenue from the completed road.
Louisiana will retain approximately 15% of toll revenues after construction, maintenance and debt service costs have been paid. Tolls won’t be collected until the new bridge opens.
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Source: Newsweek, KPLC
