Plans are moving forward for Louisiana’s $2.3 billion Calcasieu River Bridge project after the state’s public-private developer, Calcasieu Bridge Partners, reached financial close and officials issued a warning to proceed to the contractor. The project would replace the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge between Lake Charles and Westlake, La.
Calcasieu Bridge Partners is a consortium of Plenary Americas with ACCIONA and Sacyr as the project’s design-build joint venture. It will operate and maintain the new toll bridge for 50 years through a P3 with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.
The current bridge is more than 70 years old and beyond its expected 50-year useful life. Although it carries I-10, it predates the United States Interstate Highway System. Compared to modern bridges, the span has steeper approach slopes, is narrower and lacks shoulders and lighting.
“Tens of thousands of automobiles cross the existing bridge every day,” Joe Donahue, secretary of the state DOT agency, said in a statement. “A new bridge is long overdue, and removing this hurdle puts our state closer than ever to seeing this essential project built.”
The new bridge would have eight lanes, according to contractors. In addition to design and construction, the scope of the project includes modifications to existing roads along a 5.5-mile corridor, the construction of three interchanges, the raising of a local road to separate it from ‘a level railway and the demolition of the existing bridge after the opening of the new one. The P3 consortium will also manage maintenance and toll operations.
With financial close and notice to proceed, Calcasieu Bridge Partners will begin design, according to the Plenum, with construction beginning in 2026 and completion of the bridge in 2031.
Louisiana plans to fund $1.2 billion of the cost with state and federal money. The remaining portion will come from bonds that will be repaid with toll revenue. Louisiana will get about 15% of the toll revenue after construction, maintenance and debt service costs.
