Working With State & Local Leaders To Advance A New I-10 Bridge

We have coordinated comprehensive I-10 Bridge meetings with LADOTD, local government officials, and Chamber SWLA to discuss a cohesive strategy forward. Once the State presents federal authorities with a completed package, including the final project footprint and EIS, our office will aggressively pursue and support the State’s application for federal resources.

• January 2017 – Met with Chamber SWLA & Economic Development Alliance to discuss the I-10 Bridge and infrastructure priorities.
• February 2017 –  Spent many hours inspecting the I-10 Bridge with LADOTD officials and independent engineers.
• April 2017 – Met with local mayors and members of the SWLA Legislative Delegation to discuss the I-10 Bridge.
• December 2017 – Organized a full stakeholder meeting with state and local leaders in Lake Charles to consolidate around one plan for a new bridge.
• February 2018 – Met with LADOTD Secretary Wilson about a compromise plan formed in the December stakeholder meeting.
• February 2018 – Authored an op-ed in the American Press urging state and local leaders to coalesce around one plan.
• May 2018 – Chamber SWLA formed an I-10 Bridge Task Force and focused bridge replacement effort.
• October 2018 – Delivered an update on the I-10 Bridge at a public forum in Lake Charles.
• January 2019 – Chamber SWLA’s I-10 Bridge Task Force releases its findings and proposal.
• February 2019 – Met with LADOTD Secretary Wilson on the Task Force’s proposal.
• April 2019 – Congressman Higgins’ office participated in a community forum on I-10 Bridge concerns.
• May 2019 – Spoke with President Trump about the need for a new I-10 Bridge in Calcasieu Parish.
• May 2019 – President Trump committed his support to a new I-10 Bridge while visiting Cameron LNG.
• May 2019 – Sent a letter to President Trump thanking him for his commitment to building a new I-10 Bridge and emphasizing Southwest Louisiana’s economic potential.
• July 2019 – Sent a letter to Governor Edwards, urging him to address state and local issues delaying the project.
• August 2019 – Sent a letter to Governor Edwards, commending the announced $85 million in state funding and urging him to address incomplete milestones at the state level.
• October 2019 – Introduced the bipartisan Fixing America’s Bridges Act
• February 2020 – Met with I-10 Bridge Task Force on federal funding opportunities and incomplete milestones.
• February 2020 – Met with LADOTD Secretary Wilson on progress toward the preferred alternative and completed EIS.
• May 2020 – Sent a Letter to President Trump and congressional appropriators, ensuring the I-10 Bridge remains at the forefront of any upcoming federal infrastructure package.
• December 2020 – Louisiana State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation, Highways, and Public Works authorized LADOTD to solicit proposals for a public/private partnership (P3).
• January 2021 – LADOTD announced its intent to move forward with the bridge replacement project as a P3.
• February 2021 – Reintroduced the bipartisan Fixing America’s Bridges Act, which would reestablish a federal funding program to help repair and replace structurally deficient bridges.
• March 2021 – Congressman Higgins’ office participated in LADOTD’s public meeting to solicit feedback on I-10 Bridge plan alternatives.
• March 2021 – Sent a letter to Governor Edwards urging him to utilize a recent federal windfall to address Louisiana’s infrastructure backlog.
• April 2021 – Met with LADOTD Secretary Wilson to discuss progress toward the preferred alternative and finalized EIS.
• April 2021 – Met with members of the I-10 Bridge Task Force and Lake Area Industry Alliance.
• April 2021 – Led a Louisiana Delegation letter in support of the State’s application for INFRA Grant funding to replace the I-10 Bridge.
• April 2021 – Commended LADOTD for investing an additional $29.4 million toward the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge project.
• May 2021 – Delivered an official letter to the Biden White House outlining LA-03 infrastructure priorities, including the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge.
• July 2021 – Secured $10 million in initial federal funding for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge in the House-passed surface transportation bill.
• March 2022 – Delivered another official letter to the Biden White House outlining LA-03 infrastructure priorities, including the 1-10 Calcasieu River Bridge.
• April 2022 – Met with members of Chamber SWLA to discuss the I-10 Bridge and other economic opportunities for Southwest Louisiana.
• May 2022 – The State submitted an application for $600M in Mega Grant funding through the Department of Transportation.
• May 2022 – Delivered a letter of support for the State’s application for Mega Grant funding to replace the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge.
• July 2022 – Delivered a follow-up letter of support for the State’s Mega Grant application to replace the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge.
• December 2022 –Announced $150 million in federal funding for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Replacement Project.
• February 2023 – Delivered a letter to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg urging support for additional federal funding toward the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Replacement Project.
• August 2023 – Delivered a letter of support to Transportation Secretary Buttigieg urging approval of LADOTD’s Multi-Modal Discretionary Grant Application.
• October 2023 – Issued a statement calling for Governor-Elect Landry to reevaluate the P3 proposal and overall project cost.  
• January 2024 – Delivered a letter to Governor Landry offering additional federal support as he renegotiated the P3 proposal.
• January 2024 – the Louisiana State Legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee voted to advance Governor Landry’s proposal for the I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge Replacement Project. Congressman Higgins issued a statement of support.