Louisiana is set to receive critical infrastructure upgrades as part of the state’s Highway Priority Program. One of those upgrades is the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge.
Currently, the bridge is in the design phase. The design work has already generated $12 million in savings compared to some estimates.
Officials expect construction to begin in 2026. The new bridge is expected to open in 2031.
While some worry about driving over the existing 70-year-old bridge, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) Secretary Joe Donahue says it is structurally sound.
“It is not a perfect bridge, by any stretch of the imagination,” Donahue said. “It does not have shoulders; it has a very steep incline. Those things reduce safety on the bridge. However, there is no imminent threat that the bridge is going to collapse or that there is going to be a structural failure that endangers the safety of the folks that use that facility.”
If any structural failures were found, DOTD would close the bridge, according to Donahue in an interview with 7News.
Work on the new bridge is moving forward, and there will be opportunities for local contractors in the future, according to Donahue.
Additional projects in the state are set to commence in November, such as the reconstruction of State Highway 14. The project will include pavement rehabilitation and other safety enhancements funded by state and federal sources.
Source: The Center Square, 7News
