Is There Still A Chance Lake Charles Could Still Get New I-10 Bridge?

If you live in Lake Charles or Southwest Louisiana, you already know that we need a new I-10 bridge. If you have driven over the bridge ever, you know how scary it can get when crossing over the over 70-year-old bridge.

Have you ever taken a second to look at the guard rails on the bridge? When you drive over the bridge on the Both Eastbound and Westbound sides, there are several spots on the guard rails where they are either bent outwards or there is a metal patch covering a hole where the guard rail was at one time.

A few months back, there were reports that the I-10 bridge project was squashed after a vote in Baton Rouge. But now we have seen reports that there may still be a chance for a new I-10 bridge.

According to Calcasieu.info,

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced that the deadline for finalizing the public-private partnership (P3) for the Interstate 10 widening project, which includes building a new Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles and Westlake, has been pushed back to February 1, 2024.

 

DOTD and Calcasieu Bridge Partners have agreed to extend the deadline for signing the P3 contract by 60 days. The original deadline for the P3 proposal submitted by Calcasieu Bridge Partners on June 6, 2023, was December 3, 2023. This extension allows for additional time to conduct limited negotiations and obtain necessary approvals in order to move the project forward.

So you're saying there might be a chance? We don't know about that. A bunch of stars are going to have to align and the funding will need to be there. Either way, the bridge needs replacing ASAP so we hope a deal can be reached.