The Department of Transportation and Development announced it is moving forward with the new Interstate 10-Calcasieu River Bridge and in a separate news release, told how it plans to spend $67.5 million in federal supplemental funds on other projects across the state.   

State legislators approved the additional money during the 2024 regular session. Each of DOTDs nine districts will receive $7.5 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

On the list for District 07 is the following: equipment rental, districtwide guardrail repair; bridge maintenance supplies; bridge spans/caps; districtwide traffic supplies such as striping paint and raised pavement markers; districtwide signal detection supplies, for example, traffic signal video detection and control equipment; districtwide asphaltic concrete paving supplies; districtwide asphalt milling contract; storm drain repair contract; districtwide striping contract; districtwide cross drain replacement contract, and drivers who are wary of the mounting debris along the I-10 bridge will be pleased to know that a sweeping contract is included in the tentative list for the Calcasieu River and the I-210 Bridge.

“Design work has begun on pavement preservation and drainage projects that will be contracted,” DOTD spokesman John Guidroz said.

“Paving projects have begun on Lake Street, the Ferry landing and I-10 frontage roads using internal resources. This list is tentative, a list of what could be done with the $7.5 million,” he added.

District 07 maintains 3,026.69 miles and 659 bridges. It includes Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes.

“We welcome the opportunity to make progress reducing this district’s backlog and to enhance Louisiana’s roadway infrastructure with the funding that has become available,” Guidroz said, adding that the contracting community is operating near its full strength. “Projects will be contracted as well as completed with internal resources.”