With shovels in hand, local, state and federal leaders turned dirt March 24 for the first phase of one of the most anticipated infrastructure projects in the state-the LA 1 Improvement Project.

At a afternoon ground-breaking ceremony held at Bobby Lynn's Marina in Leeville, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and LA 1 Coalition marked the start of construction on a new fixed-level LA 1 bridge at Leeville and related approaches. DOTD recently approved Traylor Brothers/Massman Construction Joint Venture as the contractor for the $161 million construction project. Completion of these first segments is expected by December 2009.

Addressing the crowd at the history-making event were Governor Kathleen Blanco, U.S. Senators Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, Congressman Charlie Melancon, DOTD Secretary Johnny Bradberry, State Senator Reggie Dupre, State Representative Loulan Pitre, Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, and Coalition Chairman and Greater Lafourche Port Commission Executive Director Ted Falgout.

"Our community and state can be proud of its diligent work over the years to tell the nation of the benefits and value of LA 1," said LA 1 Coalition Executive Director as he welcomed all those in attendance. The Coalition was formed a decade ago by local stakeholders who realized the critical need for improvements to the two-lane highway in southern Lafourche Parish, which provides the only land access to Port Fourchon and the only evacuation route for thousands of offshore workers and area residents.

"This is one of the most important sections of highway in the nation because it literally fuels the nation," explained Governor Blanco. "We all understand the importance of the Leeville Bridge to our economy and America's energy supply. When storms shut it down this fall, America paid at the pump. I think the nation is finally beginning to recognize what we provide to this country."

The new overpass at Leeville will be funded by federal and state funds, along with bond revenues and a federal transportation loan that will be repaid by tolls collected on the new roadway.

"All of you said this project is worth it, and you were willing to impose tolls on yourself to get this bridge built," said Secretary Bradberry. "What we need is your continued support, partnering with the LA 1 Coalition, to finish the entire project. Make your voices heard."

In her remarks, Senator Landrieu commented that, with the help of the LA 1 Coalition, LA 1 has become "one of the most famous roads in America," and Senator Vitter stressed that, as a nation, "we need to focus on priorities and get them done in a few years, not 10 or 20."

Representative Pitre, a charter member of the LA 1 Coalition, recalled the early days of the group's efforts to get the highway improvement project moving.

"It has been ten years since we first met in Baton Rouge and decided we needed to do more than meet to get the job done. When we formed the LA 1 Coalition, people came together across regions and across parties to support this project," he said. "That has been the success behind our efforts."

Falgout, regarded by many as the "father of the LA1 project" announced that Pitre will be filing legislation this year to name the new Leeville Overpass in memory of former Greater Lafourche Port Commission Chairman Tommy Doucet, who spearheaded the concept of an improved LA 1 corridor and created the original LA 1 Emergency Task Force.

DOTD expects to receive bids for segment 1A of the project, an elevated highway from Leeville to Port Fourchon, in late summer.

For more information about the LA 1 improvement project and the construction schedule, contact Boulet at 985-448-4485 or info@la1coalition.org.

[ back ]

Press contact:
Henri Boulet, LA 1 Coalition
985.448.4485