The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced that with the help of the FASTLANE grant, it recently let two major projects as part of a multi-million dollar infrastructure investment along the I-10 corridor in the Acadiana region.
In July 2016, Gov. John Bel Edwards and DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson announced that Louisiana received $60 million in FASTLANE grant funding from the United States Department of Transportation.
“Given the competitive nature of the FASTLANE grant, DOTD was thrilled to be selected as a recipient of the fourth highest award amount in the country,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson. “The FASTLANE grant has allowed our state to expedite projects that would have otherwise stayed stagnant for years to come due to inadequate funding. This grant gives Louisiana’s infrastructure an opportunity to be more competitive on the national level.”
The funding will allow the state to complete a nearly 15-mile pavement replacement and lane addition project between the I-10/I-49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge.
In December 2016, DOTD let the first of three projects to widen the I-10 corridor. The project will involve pavement replacement within the existing the lanes and the construction of one additional lane in each direction for 6.48 miles along I-10 from I-49 to La. 328. With a bid of $124.7 million, the apparent low bidder was James Construction Group, LLC from Baton Rouge. Work on this project is estimated to begin in spring 2017.
With a bid of $54.7 million for the second widening project, the apparent low bidder was Gilchrist Construction Company, LLC from Alexandria. This project will involve pavement replacement within the existing the lanes in each direction for 2.7 miles along I-10 from La. 347 to the base of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. An additional lane will be added in the westbound direction.
The final I-10 widening project is scheduled to let for construction in FY 18/19. With an estimated cost of $100 million to $125 million, the proposed project would include pavement replacement within the existing the lanes and the construction of one additional lane in each direction for 4.3 miles along I-10 from La. 328 to La. 347.
Serving more than 60,000 cars per day, this section of the I-10 corridor serves as a direct connection to Interstate 49. It is also a vital corridor to tourism and hospitality related industries in the Acadiana region.
The FASTLANE, or Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies, competitive grant program was established in the FAST Act.