“It’s not over ‘til it’s over,” state lawmakers said Tuesday after finding out about possible toll prices for the Calcasieu River-Interstate 10 bridge.

The Louisiana Motor Transport Association didn’t wait on the official news release from the Department of Transportation. They released information Tuesday in an email that stated the tolls “disproportionately burden the transportation trucking industry with funding the project,” and asking recipients to contact state representatives.

The tolls range from 25 cents for local autos during non-peak hours with a toll tag to $18.73 for non-toll tag large trucks.

• Local Auto: $0.25 (Toll Tag) | N/A (Non-Toll Tag) | $0.13 (Peak Hour HOV Rate)
• Auto: $2.55 (Toll Tag) | $3.75 (Non-Toll Tag) | $1.25 (Peak Hour HOV Rate)
• Medium Truck: $2.55 (Toll Tag) | $3.82 (Non-Toll Tag) | N/A (Peak Hour HOV Rate)
• Large Truck: $12.50 (Toll Tag) | $18.73 (Non-Toll Tag) | N/A (Peak Hour HOV Rate)

State Rep. Phillip Tarver of Lake Charles said if the scope of the project was reduced to a bridge with egress and ingress, tolls wouldn’t be necessary.

“It’s been the House delegation’s position for the last three years, and we are unified in our position, that the tolling of the I-10 bridge is unnecessary,” Tarver said.

The proposed project includes more. It is a 5.5-mile corridor going from near Ryan Street in Lake Charles to the I-210 interchange on the west side of Lake Charles, according to the DOTD.

“It’s like the DOTD has a one-track mind about the tolls,” Tarver said. “They didn’t apply for a $150 million Infrastructure and Jobs Act grant because they made the decision to stick with the P3 (private, public partnership) agreement.”

Tarver said an additional burden would be created on the already heavily traveled I-210 bridge for those who want to avoid the toll.

“We don’t have just a bridge problem,” state Rep. Les Farnum said. “We have a bridge problem, and we’re fighting an uphill battle.”

“We’re at an impasse,” Tarver said. “Local officials feel the pain. We can’t say we don’t want a bridge.”

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Chris Landry and local mayors Mike Danahay, Hal McMillin and Nic Hunter released the following statement about the project on Tuesday: “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. We beseech the state legislature and Governor Edwards to allow for continued dialogue and negotiations with the chosen developer in order for us to find a path to tolls that are more reasonable.”

“I don’t think anybody wants to toll the bridge,” state Sen. Mark Abraham said. He has said in the past that if the bridge is tolled, he would like for residents in the five-parish area not to have to pay for it.

DOTD said received bids from two companies for the tolling. It selected one and asked legislators let them handle the details and work out the numbers before meeting, according to Abraham.

DOTD sent out a news release later on Tuesday with more information about the project and tolls.

Abraham said he “still feels like that 25 cents and other tolls in the email from LMTA can go to zero. We still have some amendments to the contract that can be put on that toll package if the project is allotted more federal or state dollars. That’s an option that has not been discussed yet. Those toll numbers are preliminary.”

Renee Amar, executive director of the LMTA, and Abraham said that in a month, the matter will go before the Joint Transportation Committee. Neither Abraham, Farnun nor Tarver are on that committee.

“We could have a lot of changes between now and then,” Abraham  said.

He said legislators will get a closer look at who won the bid, the amount of tolls for different car and truck types and estimates of how much tolls will bring in.

“It’s a little early to say those numbers are final,” he said.

He recapped the cost of the bridge and monies available to pay for it. About $1.6 billion was the first estimate for the bridge. That’s gone up to $2.1 billion.

“We had $550 million in cash. Last year we passed a bill that the $40 million coming in per year from vehicle sales tax would go toward the state’s four mega projects. The first $240 million would go to the Interstate 10 bridge.”

The toll covers the gap between the $790 million and the $2.1 billion.

Abraham said that doesn’t account for the $40 million a year from years 7,8,9, and 10.

“We could bond that money and reduce the toll by that amount. That’s not addressed in the current project.”

The Joint Transportation Committee will decide to accept the bid, reject the bid or defer the bid, he said.

Farnum said he’s not so sure it will get past that committee.

“This very much feels like David versus Goliath,” Amar said. I think the Lake Charles Chamber supports the toll. Lawmakers have been cohesive in opposition to the toll. This is a 30-, 40- or 50-year toll, starting at $12.50. Where does it end? The Joint Transportation committee meets in August. Parents are getting their kids ready for school and citizens aren’t going to be overly engaged.”

She’s asking for residents to let lawmakers know they want the state to find funding for the bridge that doesn’t double tax citizens and the transportation industry.

“As an industry, we firmly agree that there needs to be a greater investment in our state’s infrastructure, including the long-needed repairs to the Calcasieu River Bridge. What we disagree with is the burden of funding these projects being placed squarely on the backs of the trucking industry that already contributes millions in taxes. We find this egregious when there has been an emphasis from the federal government, with Presidents Biden and Trump visiting this bridge, using it as the backdrop for infrastructure policy,” she said.

Visit lmta.la to find out more on the toll proposal. Transportation committee members can be found at la.gov