Shreveport, LA – According to the state officials, the project has officially reached financial close, and the Notice to Proceed has been issued to Calcasieu Bridge Partners, the contractor responsible for construction.
DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue highlighted the urgency of the project, emphasizing that “tens of thousands of motorists cross the outdated existing bridge every day.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.”
The public-private partnership (P3) between DOTD and Calcasieu Bridge Partners was signed in January. The Louisiana State Bond Commission approved the sale of private activity bonds for the project at its July 24, 2024, meeting.
Of the $2.3 billion cost, $1.2 billion will be funded by state and federal sources, while the remaining costs will be covered through toll revenue.
This announcement marks a crucial step forward in the long-awaited project, which aims to provide a modern and safer crossing for the tens of thousands of drivers who rely on the bridge daily.