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BATON ROUGE — Gov. John Bel Edwards joined officials from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Louisiana Legislature today to announce that, as part of the 2020 Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, the state of Louisiana has received approximately $216 million to be allocated for road and infrastructure projects throughout the state. This $1.4 trillion relief package was passed by Congress last year.

The Act allocates $155 million to be used at the state’s discretion, $30 million specifically for bridge repair and/or replacement, $20 million for the state’s large metro areas and $11 million for electric vehicle charging infrastructures. DOTD selected projects across the state from needs identified through technical analyses and through legislative and public input gathered at recent and past hearings on the Highway Priority Program. The list of projects is provided below.

“As you are all aware, the state’s roads and bridges are in great need of repair and upgrade,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards. “Addressing these needs has been a priority of my administration. We have proven what we can do when we have funds and have invested over $3 billion in infrastructure since 2016, despite a 1980s revenue stream as the main source of funding.  Louisiana’s transportation infrastructure will benefit greatly from this additional funding, and I know DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson has worked tirelessly to find projects that will be most beneficial.”

“This $216 million is the next step in addressing Louisiana’s infrastructure needs,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We have more to do. Continuing this effort is my goal.”

“I’m grateful to our Congressional Delegation, especially Senator Bill Cassidy and his staff, for his unwavering support for our industry and his efforts to make this a reality,” said Secretary Wilson. “We will certainly use these funds to replace funds that were lost as a result of the coronavirus and apply them to some of the most needed projects in all regions of Louisiana.  Unlike previous federal bills, these funds can be used for operating costs.  While none will be used for DOTD salaries, supplies or travel, we will replace some of our heavy equipment used by District forces in maintaining our state-owned highways and bridges.”

Projects receiving funds are:

Preservation

• LA 308: from Theriot Canal to St. Charles Bridge, Lafourche Parish, milling and overlay, $1.9 million
• LA 648: from LA 20 to LA 1, Lafourche & Terrebonne parishes, milling and overlay, $1.7 million
• LA 18: from Barataria Blvd. to Louisiana St., Jefferson Parish, milling and overlay, $2 million
• LA 406: left turn lane at Green Trails, Plaquemines Parish, $450,000
• LA 31: from St. Martinville to LA 92-1, St. Martin Parish, patching and overlay, $2 million
• LA 173: from LA 1 to U.S. 71, Caddo Parish, asphalt overlay, $900,000
• LA 2: from West Carroll Parish line to U.S. 65, East Carroll Parish, overlay, $2.1 million
• LA 15: from U.S. 425 to Ouachita Parish line, Richland Parish, asphalt overlay, $3.3 million
• LA 108: from I-10 to LA 1256, Calcasieu Parish, patching, cold planing, and overlay, $4.1 million
• LA 99 and LA 102: from LA 3086 to LA 26, Jefferson Davis Parish, milling and overlay, $1.7 million
• U.S. 71: turn lanes for emergency staging area, Rapides Parish, $1 million
• LA 119: embankment slide repairs, Natchitoches Parish, $5 million
• LA 914, LA 915, and LA 916: Catahoula Parish, patching and overlay, $2.1 million
• LA 68: from U.S. 61 to LA 964, East Feliciana Parish, stabilize and overlay, $2.9 million
• LA 78: from U.S. 190 to LA 1, Pointe Coupee Parish, patching, thinning, and overlay, $1.5 million
• LA 441: from LA 42 to I-12, Livingston Parish, milling and overlay, $900,000
• LA 16: from Livingston Parish line to LA 63, St. Helena Parish, milling and overlay, $3 million

Major Investment

• I-49: work TBD, Lafayette Parish, $50 million
• I-20: widening from U.S. 165 to approximately 2 miles eastward, Ouachita Parish $20 million
• I-20: from Monkhouse Dr. East to Greenwood Rd. at I-20/I-49, Caddo Parish, $15 million
• U.S. 190 utility relocation: St. Landry Parish, $8 million

Direct Category Expenditure

• Bridge replacement and rehabilitation, Calcasieu Parish, $29.4 million
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, statewide, $11.3 million
• Allocations for greater than 200,000 population, metropolitan planning organizations, $19.9 million

District Priorities

• $26 million to the district offices for regional congestion relief and equipment replacement

Surplus

• The Administration is requesting TTF match Highway Priority Program, statewide, $35 million