Construction on a new Interstate 10 Calcasieu Bridge in Lake Charles is set to begin in less than a year, after years of discussion and planning.
Calcasieu River Bridge Project Public Information Officer Jonathan Hill said the 5.5-mile corridor stretching from Ryan Street to the Interstate 210 and I-10 interchange in Westlake is scheduled to begin construction in early 2026 and be completed by fall 2031.
Built in 1952, the current bridge initially had an average daily traffic count of about 30,000 vehicles. Today, that number exceeds 70,000 vehicles daily, Hill said.
"The infrastructure is aging, its current design is no longer suitable for the amount of traffic that continues to cross it each day," Hill said. "The (Department of Transportation) determined that this was the next project they wanted to undertake and so we're here now seeking to build this new bridge."
Hill said the project's initial requests for proposals period was from 2021 to 2023. In August 2024, financing for the project was secured.
"From there, a notice to proceed was issued for the work to commence on the project," Hill said. "Since then, the project has been in its design phase, where the engineering team has been looking at what will be the official footprint of the new bridge."
In addition, Hill said the bridge team is analyzing the various utilities that are underground and above ground near where the bridge will go up to understand the impact the construction of the new bridge may have.
"I-10 will remain open during the construction," Hill said. "Many people thought that it would be shut down or traffic (would) be significantly rerouted, but I-10 will remain open as the new bridge is constructed. When there are impacts, the public will be made aware of it."
The project is a public-private partnership between the state, federal government and private entities.
"This will be a $2.3 billion investment into southwest Louisiana," Hill said. "There are various funding sources that make that up, from state, local and private partners."
When the new bridge is completed and operating, there will be toll costs, but the amount drivers will pay won't be available until it gets closer to completion.