Lake Charles, Louisiana - In a significant development, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced that the $2.3 billion Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge megaproject in Lake Charles has reached financial close, paving the way for the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners, to begin work on the project.
Governor Jeff Landry hailed the milestone, stating, "Since I took office in January, my administration has remained committed to getting this critical project off the ground. Reaching the Notice to Proceed is proof of that dedication to the people of Louisiana, as well as our continued drive to improve and modernize Louisiana's infrastructure."
The project, which involves the construction of a new 5.5-mile corridor from near Ryan Street in Lake Charles to the I-210 and I-10 interchange in Westlake, Louisiana is expected to take approximately seven years to complete. The scope of the project includes the new bridge and approaches, interstate roadways and ramps, 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.
One of the key features of the project is the replacement of the current I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, which is over 70 years old and predates the interstate system. The new bridge will have additional lanes, full shoulders, and roadway lighting, making it a significant improvement over the existing narrow and steep bridge.
The project is being funded through a public-private partnership (P3) between DOTD and Calcasieu Bridge Partners, with state and federal funding covering $1.2 billion of the project's overall cost. The remaining costs will be covered through toll revenue, which will not be charged until the new bridge is open to traffic.
DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue emphasized the importance of the project, saying, "Tens of thousands of motorists cross the outdated existing bridge every day. A new bridge is long overdue, and clearing this hurdle puts our state closer than ever to seeing construction on this essential project."
The toll revenue generated from the project will be used to lower toll rates, shorten the toll's 50-year term, or fund future highway transportation infrastructure projects in Southwest Louisiana's five-parish area.