La. DOTD receives $60 million from federal government

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has announced that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has recently received $60.8 million in addition federal fund for highway projects.
In an October 11, 2017 release from the governor’s office, it states, “The department qualified for the additional federal funds after successfully allocating the full amount of its available federal funding to construction projects for the 2016-17 federal fiscal year.”
In response to receiving the funds, Gov. Edwards said, “It is a great day when we can bring the tax dollars of hardworking Louisianans back to our own state. These funds will allow us to continue many of the road projects and bridges we use every day.”
These funds come from the Federal Highway Administrations effort each year to allocate funds that were not used by other states or national programs.
According to the release, “The Louisiana DOTD will use the newly awarded additional funds on projects where the funds can be obligated by September 30, 2017.”
The release also provided a statement from DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, who stated, “We can certainly put this nearly $61 million to good use.
“Without a longterm, sustainable revenue source, the state may not be able to apply for redistributed funds in coming years because in 2019 the current revenue will not be sufficient to match annual federal allocations. These funds are essential to maintaining the existing state highway system, which consists of more than $16,000 miles of roadway and nearly 13,000 bridges.”
According to the release, “$6 million” out of the $60.8 million DOTD is receiving “is being allocated for pre-construction work on the I-10 corridor in Baton Rouge, as well as pre-construction on the activities for several other projects throughout the state.”
The governor’s office shared a list of the bridges and roads that will be receiving these funds for replacements, repairs, pavement and overlays. There were no bridges or roads in Evangeline Parish that made the list.
To see the complete list, visit evangelinetoday.com.