New I-10 bridge planned (Baton Rouge, Lake Charles: 2014, construction, tax)

[cBach]

Well the new I-10 bridge will be located slightly north of the existing one. It would be a cable stayed bridge, it is absolutely beautiful. It would have 6 lanes, 3 in each direction plus a pedestrian and bikeway.

The exit into Westlake would be elevated and cross over the railroad tracks so that would alleviate that crossing.

The bridge would be paid by private companies and funded by tolls. Because of the very high traffic volume on I-10, most of the funding for this would actually be paid by people passing through. Locals would get a tax break.

I-10 Bridge Task Force shares recommendations with Alliance for Positive Growth

[Tom Lennox 70]

Honestly its the Baton Rouge area that needs a new bridge and they still haven't come up with a timeline yet. There really needs to be a new bridge south of the existing I-10 bridge to Port Allen, I think one where the Plaquemine ferry is now would be very useful as a lot of people commute to the plants on both sides of the river.

If this Lake Charles bridge is tolled people should be careful. We have a Democrat as governor and they always promise tolls will be removed once the construction's complete but they always find ways of justifying keeping the tolls in place. Besides both Lake Charles and BR need to take advantage of our Senators and Congressmen's influence in Washington to get more federal funds for these projects. I know Senator Kennedy and Congressmen Scalise and Graves are very influential in Washington. Makes more sense to have federal funds spent on these bridges than further subdizing California's pipe dreams with high speed rail and such.

I also think I-12 should be widened to 3 lanes in each direction in all of St. Tammany parish. Glad they're widening it past Walker but that stretch should be widened at least past Livingston or Holden. I-10 should probably be widened all the way to Gonzales from Baton Rouge, not just to Prairieville.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70

Honestly its the Baton Rouge area that needs a new bridge and they still haven't come up with a timeline yet. There really needs to be a new bridge south of the existing I-10 bridge to Port Allen, I think one where the Plaquemine ferry is now would be very useful as a lot of people commute to the plants on both sides of the river.

If this Lake Charles bridge is tolled people should be careful. We have a Democrat as governor and they always promise tolls will be removed once the construction's complete but they always find ways of justifying keeping the tolls in place. Besides both Lake Charles and BR need to take advantage of our Senators and Congressmen's influence in Washington to get more federal funds for these projects. I know Senator Kennedy and Congressmen Scalise and Graves are very influential in Washington. Makes more sense to have federal funds spent on these bridges than further subdizing California's pipe dreams with high speed rail and such.

I also think I-12 should be widened to 3 lanes in each direction in all of St. Tammany parish. Glad they're widening it past Walker but that stretch should be widened at least past Livingston or Holden. I-10 should probably be widened all the way to Gonzales from Baton Rouge, not just to Prairieville.

Not sure if you've driven the Calcasieu bridge in a while but its falling apart.
Who always promises tolls wil be removed from where? We barely have tolls in this state.

Your senators don't want federal funding because they get donations from the potential builders and owners of the bridge.

I-12 should not be widened, there should be a train along the I-12 corridor. I-10 shouldn't be widened either without plans for mass transit.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Tom Lennox 70

Honestly its the Baton Rouge area that needs a new bridge and they still haven't come up with a timeline yet. There really needs to be a new bridge south of the existing I-10 bridge to Port Allen, I think one where the Plaquemine ferry is now would be very useful as a lot of people commute to the plants on both sides of the river.

If this Lake Charles bridge is tolled people should be careful. We have a Democrat as governor and they always promise tolls will be removed once the construction's complete but they always find ways of justifying keeping the tolls in place. Besides both Lake Charles and BR need to take advantage of our Senators and Congressmen's influence in Washington to get more federal funds for these projects. I know Senator Kennedy and Congressmen Scalise and Graves are very influential in Washington. Makes more sense to have federal funds spent on these bridges than further subdizing California's pipe dreams with high speed rail and such.

I also think I-12 should be widened to 3 lanes in each direction in all of St. Tammany parish. Glad they're widening it past Walker but that stretch should be widened at least past Livingston or Holden. I-10 should probably be widened all the way to Gonzales from Baton Rouge, not just to Prairieville.

Oh pleazzze. The I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge is structurally sound. The whole issue with that bridge is that I-10 goes down to 1 lane going east (well it's 2 but one lane exits). If they simply added an extra lane or two the whole bridge wouldn't back up.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ba...!4d-91.1871466

The I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River is structurally deficient. The rails are falling off. It's horrible!

Also, you claim that tolls are a "Democratic party" thing but if you look at Texas, which is very Republican, almost every new highway is a toll road. They way they paid for the Katy Freeway was with tolls.

Tolls will get the bridge built a lot quicker.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by cBach

Oh pleazzze. The I-10 bridge in Baton Rouge is structurally sound. The whole issue with that bridge is that I-10 goes down to 1 lane going east (well it's 2 but one lane exits). If they simply added an extra lane or two the whole bridge wouldn't back up.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ba...!4d-91.1871466

The I-10 bridge over the Calcasieu River is structurally deficient. The rails are falling off. It's horrible!

Also, you claim that tolls are a "Democratic party" thing but if you look at Texas, which is very Republican, almost every new highway is a toll road. They way they paid for the Katy Freeway was with tolls.

Tolls will get the bridge built a lot quicker.

Fyi, an extra lane or 6 will not fix that bridge. Louisiana is 40 years behind on infrastructure.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Fyi, an extra lane or 6 will not fix that bridge. Louisiana is 40 years behind on infrastructure.

Maybe not but the I-10 bridge in LC is in worse shape than the I-10 bridge in BR.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by cBach

Maybe not but the I-10 bridge in LC is in worse shape than the I-10 bridge in BR.

Facts.

[Chootybooty]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Fyi, an extra lane or 6 will not fix that bridge. Louisiana is 40 years behind on infrastructure.

Louisiana is 40 years behind on everything.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by Chootybooty

Louisiana is 40 years behind on everything.

The reason I left.

[CookieSkoon]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

The reason I left.

See, that's something we agree on wholly. haha I may visit, but you couldn't pay me to move back to LA.

It is good to see that bridge being replaced though. It was obviously in terrible shape back in 2007, can't imagine what it's been like since I moved away in 2014.