2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 122
BY SENATORS MORRISH, JOHNS AND JOHN SMITH AND REPRESENTATIVES
ABRAHAM, DWIGHT, FRANKLIN AND MOSS
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To direct the Department of Transportation and Development to expedite procurement,
planning, engineering, design, and construction of a new Interstate 10 Calcasieu
River Bridge, in cooperation with the Southwest Area Chamber's I-10 Bridge Task
Force.
WHEREAS, the development, construction, and maintenance of an efficient, safe,
and well-maintained intermodal transportation system is essential to improve safety, relieve
congestion, promote continued economic growth, and provide an increased quality of life
for the people of this state; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and local
governmental agencies in southwestern Louisiana, the area legislative delegation, the
Southwest Area Chamber's I-10 Bridge Task Force (task force), as well as the
public-at-large, recognize the urgent need for the replacement of the Interstate 10 Calcasieu
River Bridge; and
WHEREAS, the existing Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge has exceeded its useful
life, and the construction of a new six-lane bridge, located parallel to the existing bridge,
with shoulders, a pedestrian walkway, and related ingress and egress is necessary; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that DOTD study the conditions, needs, issues, and
funding relative to the procurement, planning, engineering, design, and construction of a new
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Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge, and to recommend any action considered necessary or
appropriate; and
WHEREAS, the task force released a set of recommendations in January of 2019,
that provide the state with a well-researched, detailed action plan to tackle this most critical
interstate bridge project with a public-private partnership and without incurring debt or using
any tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, in 1997, the legislature recognized that public revenue, including federal
funds, has not kept pace with the state's growing transportation system needs and enacted
Act 1017 of the 1997 Regular Session of the Legislature to encourage parishes and
municipalities to utilize public-private partnerships to assist in the financing of
improvements to the state highway system through any available means and to authorize the
creation of transportation authorities for such purposes; and
WHEREAS, forming an authority was also one of the task force's recommendations;
and
WHEREAS, under the direction of such an authority, the task force's proposed plan
for the new bridge estimates it could be completed within three years with the cooperation
of DOTD; and
WHEREAS, the cooperation of DOTD and the task force is necessary, in the study
of the conditions, needs, issues, and funding relative to the procurement, planning,
engineering, design, and construction of a new Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge, and to
follow any action considered necessary or appropriate by the secretary of the DOTD and the
task force.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
direct the Department of Transportation and Development to expedite procurement,
planning, engineering, design, and construction of a new Interstate 10 Calcasieu River
Bridge in cooperation with the Southwest Area Chamber's I-10 Bridge Task Force.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby direct
the Department of Transportation and Development to seriously consider undertaking a
public-private partnership for the new Interstate 10 Calcasieu River Bridge project as an
alternative to the use of conventional methods.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development and to the chair of the
Southwest Area Chamber's I-10 Bridge Task Force.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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