It is generally accepted that bridges built in that time period had an assumed design life of 50 years. It predates the interstate system, which this bridge became a part of back in the 1960s. The current Calcasieu River Bridge was constructed in 1952 and was originally part of the U.S. The tolls have been minimized because funding for this project will be combined with $800 million from a variety of sources: $150 million federal discretionary grant awarded to DOTD for the project, $240 million in Motor Vehicle Sales Tax fund transfers, $150 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, $85 million in state general obligation bonds, $75 million from Highway Priority Program federal funds and $100 million from state general fund.Īnother $150 million in Highway Priority Program funds are being used directly by DOTD for the project to cover right-of-way acquisition, railroad relocation, utility relocations, environmental mitigation, and review of construction by state inspectors. Peack-hour HOV (high occupancy vehicle) rates at 13 cents require three or more occupants to be in the vehicle and a toll tag for eligibility.ĬBP will manage and oversee construction, maintenance, and operations of the new bridge and will recoup its investment through tolls paid by motorists. Local auto designation is limited to vehicles registered in the five-parish area, Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis Parishes, and requires a toll tag for eligibility. Tolls will be collected for up to 50 years, and adjustments mean tolls could increase. Toll rates are set at 2023 dollars and will be adjusted over time based upon the Consumer Price Index. Tolling will not begin until the new bridge is open to traffic. Each has a crucial part to play and together are much better placed to share risks and deliver big projects, according to Guidroz. Joint ventures are commonly used to deliver large projects by pooling expertise and resources, including private funding. Only two bids were received by DOTD, and DOTD cannot give information at this time on the other bid that was received. The other three companies on the short list have fewer entities. Huval & Associates, Janssen & Spaans Engineering and Modjeski & Masters. The lead designer is a joint venture between Arcadis U.S. The new bridge will be lower and therefore not as steep, have more lanes, full shoulders and roadway lighting.Ĭalcasieu Bridge Partners includes three equity members, Plenary Americas, Sacyr Infrastructure and Acciona Concesiones, The design-build contractor is Aecon Infrastructure Development, Inc. If there is no account, the license plate is scanned and a bill will be mailed,” Guidroz said.Ĭonstruction could start as early as 2024 and is anticipated to last approximately seven years. The gantry, an overhead structure, recognizes the tag and deducts the toll amount from the driver’s established. “Tags will be scanned automatically when a driver passes an unobtrusive toll gantry and will not slow down traffic. Association leaders have asked truckers and other Louisiana residents to contact their representatives. Trucks without a toll tag will pay $18.73, rates that the Louisiana Motor Transport Association says will disproportionately burden the trucking industry. A large truck with a toll tag will pay $12.50. A local auto with a tag will pay 25 cents. Toll rates will vary based on vehicle type and whether or not the vehicle uses a reduced rate toll tag. “DOTD received two proposals for the project in June and after thorough technical and financial evaluation, CBP had the best overall value to the public,” said John Guidroz, District 07 DOTD spokesperson. Sampson Street will be elevated over the railroad tracks to eliminate blockages from trains. In addition to a new bridge and approaches, the project includes the interstate roadways and ramps, the I-10 service roads, and interchanges at PPG Drive, Sampson Street, and North Lakeshore/Ryan Street that connect the interstate to state roads and local streets.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |