U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco traveled to Port Fourchon on May 19 to approve a historic $66 million federal loan dedicated to the construction of phase one of the LA 1 Improvement Project.

This first phase includes the construction of a two-lane fixedlevel bridge at Leeville and a two-lane elevated highway from Leeville to the port, estimated to cost approximately $150 million. It is part of a larger plan to upgrade LA 1 from U.S. 90 to Grand Isle, and will be funded by the the federal loan proceeds, $95 million in revenue bonds and a mixture of state and federal appropriations.

"It is clear that a two-lane road that floods even at the sight of rain is no longer adequate to serve this important port," said Mineta before putting his signature on the Transportation Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan agreement.

"The importance of LA 1 to the economies of Louisiana and our nation makes it a prime candidate for a TIFIA loan," he added.

As the roadway’s vulnerability to flooding during high tide events and tropical weather increases, the LA 1 highway improvement plan becomes even more critically significant, a point recognized by Governor Blanco.

"This is not just a road to Leeville," she said. "It is a road to public safety, energy security and economic vitality for our people."

The TIFIA loan is a first for the state of Louisiana, and the LA 1 project is also a first for the Louisiana Transportation Authority, which has authorized tolls to be collected from traffic traveling south on the new Leeville bridge to repay the federal loan and private bonds.

"This is a remarkable event and it solidifies the future of Lafourche Parish," remarked Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph at the loan signing. "It will sustain the oil and gas industry that supports Lafourche Parish."

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Press contact:
Henri Boulet, LA 1 Coalition
985.448.4485