The federal government needs to eliminate the myriad of roadblocks that keeps proposed road and infrastructure projects stuck in park, according to Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry.
Landry vented his frustrations Thursday on Capitol Hill during an address to the federal House Transportation and Commerce Committee.
One of those projects he discussed was the proposed Mississippi River Bridge for the Baton Rouge metropolitan region that would link Plaquemine to St. Gabriel.
The bridge would connect La. 30 on the east side near St. Gabriel or Carville to an area south of Plaquemine, according to the plans currently on the drawing board.
The project will not see additional funding for another two years from motor vehicle sales tax revenue. Budget issues forced the state to halt funding on the bridge for two years.
The state will need a bigger commitment from the federal government to continue with plans for the Plaquemine/St. Gabriel toll bridge and other projects.
Traffic continues to worsen in the region, particularly along the I-10 corridor, he said.
Baton Rouge has the fourth highest volume of daily traffic congestion in the nation, Landry told the committee.
“If you are traveling from Texas to New Orleans and you get to Baton Rouge, you’ll see what I’m saying,” he said. “If you want to make my commute from the Town of Broussard over to Baton Rouge, I welcome you… we could use some help being able to procure it.”
He was also critical of federal mandates that have stalled the construction of a new bridge to replace the 75–year-old artery that serves as part of Interstate 10.
Landry spoke out against the federal mandate that calls for an environmental study before the construction gets the green light.
“I have a hard time understanding why if you’re replace a bridge that has been there 70 years, you need to do an environmental review to replace that bridge,” he said. “It’s time we look toward the infrastructure policy in place, eliminate regulatory barriers, streamline permitting and truly implement the one federal decision that allows for federal agencies for a one-agency, one-decision environmental review.”
The current process also hurts the transportation of goods, which is threatening both the supply chain and the economy.
It will take an aggressive move toward repair and rehabilitation of infrastructure to reverse the trend.
“Without investment in Louisiana’s roads, bridges and waters, the supply chain falters, manufacturing flows and consumers face delays – and we’re losing on that,” Landry said. “I implore you to find a way to move this country back on track.
“In Louisiana, we say “Let the good times roll,” he said. “Unfortunately, not much is rolling today in America.”