Next phase of construction makes way for planned future LA 1 improvements
GOLDEN MEADOW, LA – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, in partnership with the LA 1 Coalition, held a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase 2E of La. 1 Expressway in Leeville. DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. was joined by the LA 1 Coalition, the Greater Lafourche Port Commission, and state and local officials at the Leeville Seafood Restaurant in Golden Meadow, for an 11:00 a.m. ceremony.
The $13.2 million project, of which $6.6 million came from the LA 1 Coalition, the Port Commission, and other energy industry partners, is part of the ongoing La. 1 improvement effort that began in 1997. It will widen the bridge by 1,750 feet and extend it northward by 390 feet, between the GeauxPass toll plaza and the Leeville Bridge. The widening and extension of the structure is needed to complement a three-lane tie-in from the north and will include a broader curve when driving southbound that is designed to improve the safety of the current structure and reduce crashes, significantly.
The completed phase will allow for the future construction of the remaining 8.3-mile portion of the elevated roadway, once funding is secured. To date, $375 million has been invested in improving the La. 1 corridor.
“La. 1 is a major corridor providing access to facilities and ports which support 16 percent of our nation’s domestic oil production and five percent of our natural gas production,” said Governor Edwards. “Furthermore, it will continue to be critical to the efficiency of our coastal restoration efforts along the lower Barataria and Terrebonne basins, so safe and reliable infrastructure is an absolute necessity.”
“The La. 1 highway provides a link to the seafood industry and tourist destinations like Grand Isle,” said Secretary Wilson. “Most importantly, it is a critical hurricane evacuation route that leads our coastal residents to safety during emergencies. We owe it to our citizens to be able to maintain and improve our highway system in Louisiana.”
“La. 1 serves as the only gateway to nearly 20 percent of the nation’s energy supply, representing a direct impact to the Louisiana economy of over $4 billion annually,” said Henri Boulet, executive director of the LA 1 Coalition. “Beyond the role La. 1 serves today, it is critical to continued economic and industrial development along our state’s working coast. We look forward to working with our state, federal and industry partners to complete the La. 1 project to help ensure our region’s long-term economic resiliency.”
La. 1 serves as the sole evacuation route for lower Lafourche Parish and the barrier island of Grand Isle. It also is the only access route to Port Fourchon, the nation’s premier intermodal energy port, and the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, the nation’s only offshore oil port. It has been designated as a high-priority corridor by the U.S. Congress based on its critical energy infrastructure.
James Construction Group, LLC, is contracted to perform work on the project, which was let in December 2017 and is estimated for completion in early 2020.