U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., announced Monday an allocation of $11.4 million to the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana to raise a section C.C. Bel Road and provide an alternate evacuation route during heavy rainfall and flooding.

The money is part of a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Transportation Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The funding through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant will provide federal monies to improve access to the Coushatta Tribe’s reservation. The grant will cover the engineering design, environmental compliance, right-of-way, and construction to extend and upgrade about 2.5 miles of the road.

“The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana is so grateful to Sen. Cassidy,” Tribe Chairman Jonathan Cernek said. “It’s been an honor to partner with him as a fighter for our people and our local economy. His focus on delivering this important regional project shows that when elected officials prioritize those most in need, big things can and will happen.”

After more than a decade of work to secure funding for this project, it is finally coming to fruition because of the strong partnership between Louisiana’s Congressional delegation and the Tribe.

The Coushatta Tribe will take advantage of more than $11 million in funding to invest in an extension for one of two major roads that run through the reservation, which contains Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana tribal trust lands. This connection will flood-proof major thoroughfares that connect the families and jobs on the Tribe’s lands to the greater Allen Parish community and ensure emergency services and evacuation routes stay clear and accessible for all citizens.

This represents the largest single investment in regional infrastructure in the last quarter century, made possible by the Coushatta Tribe seeking to bring federal tax dollars home to Louisiana. These federal dollars will be utilized to:

– Raise an existing 3.5-mile section of CC Bel Road that becomes impassable during heavy rain, including a bridge to cross Blue Bayou on the Allen Parish right-of-way.

– Utilize Federal Highway Construction Standards to ensure the quality of work and life of the project for future generations.

– Provide an alternate evacuation route during frequent high-water events, flooding, and natural disasters.

C.C. Bel Road is a major roadway running\ through the middle of the Coushatta Reservation, just north of Elton. It leads to many residences and businesses, including the Tribal Administration Building and police and fire departments.