Unused federal funds from other states totaling $104-million is headed to Louisiana to help reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety and promote efficient transportation. The critical need for such funding is difficult to overstate, especially when you consider the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave Louisiana a D+ grade on its most recent infrastructure report card in 2021.
The poor rankings also include one by Consumer Affairs, which states Louisiana ranks 4th for the Worst Roads in America (2024). And for other recent assessments of states’ infrastructure, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) ranks Louisiana 8th for the largest number of bridges in poor conditions.
Louisiana’s Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) Spokesperson Rodney Mallet says the $104 million will help pay for new roadways, bridges and other large, essential projects. “Parts of Sabine Parish and Saint Mary Parish and Madison and Natchitoches, you know, those projects are important to those areas too.”
This award becomes the second largest allocation ever received by DOTD, only surpassed by last year’s funding of $210 million. In a DOTD statement posted on its website, the agency explained:
“These newly acquired funds will play a crucial role in addressing budget shortfalls caused by inflation-driven bid costs and will allow the department to deliver critical road, bridge, and safety projects sooner than anticipated.”
Some of the projects include:
- $6.56 million – LA 6 rehab in Sabine Parish
- $6.22 million – US 71 bridges near St. Maurice in Natchitoches Parish
The additional funding will also allow DOTD to advance the following projects sooner than expected:
- Linwood Avenue Reconstruction Phase 3 in Caddo Parish.
- LA 175 from LA 509 to LA 5 in DeSoto Parish
- District 08 Flashing Yellow Arrows Part 2 in Rapides Parish
- LA 8 Forker Creek Bridge in Vernon Parish
- District 05 Rumple Strips and Striping Phase 2 in Lincoln, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland and Union Parishes
- US 371 in Bienville Parish
- LA 115 between LA 1188 and LA 114 in Avoyelles Parish
According to the Fiscal 2025 budget, [House Bill 1], signed by Governor Jeff Landry June 19, $390.1 million is allocated “for various road resurfacing projects, local road transfers, capital outlay projects, bridge maintenance and DOTD acquisitions.”
