HOUMA, La. – Taxpayers in Houma and Thibodaux and in communities from Patterson to Port Fourchon will see welcomed improvement to roads thanks to surplus funds from the 2007 Legislative Session.

DOTD received $695 million in additional funding to be used for road construction, pre-construction, ports and flood protection projects across the state. More than $95 million of that money will be spent on 14 projects in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption and St. Mary parishes this fiscal year. The largest of these 14 projects, the La. 1 Port Fourchon to Leeville elevated roadway, will receive $63 million in surplus funds.

"The surplus funds are just what Louisiana roads need," said DOTD Secretary Johnny B. Bradberry. "DOTD is moving quickly to start construction on these projects because we know the positive impact they have in local communities."

Several projects, such as the resurfacing of North and South Van Drive in Houma ($1.6 million) and the resurfacing of La. 182 in Patterson ($1.1 million), are already under construction. The remaining projects, such as the resurfacing of La. 70 through Pierre Part ($7.2 million), have received bids from contractors with plans for construction to begin in 2008.

The $695 million is a one-time allocation from the Legislature and the governor. DOTD’s main source of funding road and bridge construction is through the 16-cent state gasoline tax, which does not keep up with inflation and has lost about half of its value since 1984. As a result, Louisiana now has about $14 billion in road and bridge projects it cannot afford to complete.

For questions or concerns about DOTD projects, contact DOTD’s Customer Service Center at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683) or by e-mail at customerservice@dotd.la.gov. The center is open 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday.