BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is announcing a major development in the new Calcasieu River Bridge project.

The $2.3 billion Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge megaproject in Lake Charles has officially reached a financial close. The Notice to Proceed has been issued. This allows the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners, to begin work on the project.

Governor Jeff Landry is applauding the step forward.

“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,” said Governor Landry.

DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue echoed the Governor saying, “Tens of thousands of motorists cross the outdated existing bridge every day.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.”

DOTD and CBP signed the public-private partnership (P3) in January to build the new bridge. The Louisiana State Bond Commission approved the sale of private activity bonds for the project at its July 24, 2024 meeting. State and federal funding covers $1.2 billion of the project’s overall cost. The remaining costs will be covered through toll revenue.

Tolls will not be charged until the new bridge is open to traffic. The state will retain nearly 15 percent of toll revenues after construction, maintenance and debt service costs are paid. These 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.

“Secretary Donahue and I are focused on the positive economic impacts for our state and the region with the toll profit requirements that could result in lower rates or even more infrastructure improvements,” added Governor Landry.

The scope of the project is a 5.5-mile corridor from near Ryan Street in Lake Charles to the I-210 and I-10 interchange in Westlake. Improvements include 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. Sampson Street will be elevated over the railroad tracks to eliminate blockages from trains.

Preliminary construction activities of the project may begin as early as this year and are anticipated to take approximately seven years to complete. Once construction is finished, Calcasieu Bridge Partners will operate and maintain the new bridge for up to 50 years.

The current I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge is more than 70 years old and predates the interstate system. Unlike most modern bridges, it is narrow, has steep approach grades and lacks shoulders and lighting. The new bridge will not be as steep, have additional lanes, full shoulders and roadway lighting.