Louisana state transportation officials have extended the deadline of the public-private partnership for widening Interstate 10 and a new Calcasieu River Bridge to allow more time for an agreement to be reached.
“This agreement to extend this proposal’s validity period provides more time for further negotiations and to secure the necessary approvals. The ultimate goal is to try to advance this project,” said DOTD spokesperson John Guidroz to Louisiana Radio Network.
The original deadline was December 3rd, which has now been extended for 60 days. State lawmakers rejected the proposal over the $2.1 billion price tag and the burden tolls would place on motorists. A new administration will be sworn in on January 8th and Guidroz told Louisiana Radio Network the bridge connecting Lake Charles and Westlake is critical infrastructure.
“Not only for southwest Louisiana, the state, but the entire Interstate 10 corridor. DOTD has already invested significant resources to this point on this project and extending this didn’t cost anything,” said Guidroz.
Guidroz said the deadline extension can be seen as a lifeline for the bridge, which carries an estimated 90,000 vehicles a day.
“We have the opportunity to continue those discussions at no cost to the state. Why not go ahead and continue that? This doesn’t mean that this is going to happen. It’s just to see if there’s a potential path forward,” said Guidroz to Louisiana Radio Network.
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Source: Louisiana Radio Network
