DOTD and Calcasieu Bridge Partners outline I‑10 Calcasieu River bridge timeline, tolling and early impacts

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury heard a detailed update Thursday on the I‑10 Calcasieu River Bridge and corridor project, including construction timing, right‑of‑way acquisitions, temporary detours and the planned start of electronic tolling in August 2031.

The presentation, led by Jonathan S. Hill, public information manager for the I‑10 Calcasieu Bridge project, laid out a four‑segment construction plan for the 5.5‑mile corridor between the I‑210 interchange in Westlake and Ryan Street in Lake Charles and described the concession and early works now underway.

Hill said the project will widen and reconstruct I‑10 to provide six travel lanes plus two auxiliary lanes, an elevated Sampson Street overpass, enhanced bridge lighting and a reduced bridge height “somewhere between 75 to 95 feet.” He described the overall cost as a $2,300,000,000 investment and said the work will be built on a new alignment just north of the current roadway. “Traffic is scheduled to shift to the new alignment in February 2030, but the tolling will not commence until August 2031,” Hill said, noting there will be roughly a year when drivers can use the new alignment without paying a toll.

Why this matters: the reconstruction replaces a 1952 span that now carries far more traffic than it was designed for. The project includes long‑term private operation: Calcasieu Bridge Partners holds a 50‑year concession to operate and maintain most corridor assets after partial acceptance, with a concession period ending in August 2081.

Most important facts

- Scope and timeline: A 5.5‑mile corridor from the I‑210 interchange in Westlake to Ryan Street in Lake Charles; construction of the corridor is slated to begin in early 2026; traffic is scheduled to be shifted onto a new alignment in February 2030; partial acceptance and tolling are scheduled to begin in August 2031; final completion is anticipated in August 2031. Hill described construction being done in four segments simultaneously.

- Cost and concession: Project cost stated as $2.3 billion. Calcasieu Bridge Partners has a 50‑year concession to operate and maintain the corridor (except the existing bridge, which DOTD will maintain until the new structure is completed).

- Early works and right of way: Advanced right‑of‑way phase 1 is underway and Hill said about 19 parcels are expected to be fully acquired in phase 1, with about 10 parcels identified for partial takings in a phase 2 pending final alignment maps. Utility relocations and a common duct bank are scheduled to start as part of early works.

- Traffic and detours: Hill said traffic on I‑10 will remain open during construction. He warned of immediate impacts: a westbound closure at the Westlake Ramp Exit 27 was scheduled to begin the night of the meeting to allow relocation of an overhead pipe rack into an underground duct. Hill also said Sampson Street will be closed from Sofer Avenue to the interstate in August 2028 for roughly 18 months to build the overpass, with detours under evaluation. He described a temporary detour route with a 12‑foot vertical clearance and special routing for over‑height vehicles.

Questions from jurors and DOTD response

Jurors raised concerns about concurrent bridge work and local traffic impacts. Brian Abshire (Police Juror, District 5) recounted a recent day when the I‑10 and I‑210 crossings were both restricted and said a courier delay affected a critical‑care patient awaiting test results. Seth Woods, district administrator for the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), said simultaneous closures are a last resort and that DOTD prioritizes public safety: “It’s something that we is a last resort for DOTD because we know the impacts it has on our area,” he said, and added that DOTD would monitor traffic and adjust signal timing or signage where needed.

Juror Michael Smith asked whether the southern portion of the project would change access to the Horseshoe Casino area. Hill and staff said they are obligated to maintain business access throughout construction and will “do everything we can” to preserve access, but jurors and speakers noted businesses on Sampson Street and near the Horseshoe Casino would experience negative impacts during the work.

Operations and responsibilities

Hill explained that Calcasieu Bridge Partners began operation and maintenance responsibilities for corridor assets in February under the contract while DOTD will continue to operate and maintain the existing bridge until construction of the new bridge is complete. Hill said the concessionaire is required to keep corridor assets to baseline technical standards and to repair items such as guardrails and potholes within specified timeframes.

Permits and next steps

Hill said the project team has submitted required permits to the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and that interim design work is about 60% complete. He invited vendors and the public to the project website (i10calcasieubridge.com) for videos, procurement notices and a monthly newsletter.

The presentation closed with an offer to take further questions and DOTD staff said they will monitor local signals and on‑site conditions at detour locations once closures begin.

A closing note: the presentation was informational; the Police Jury took no formal action on the bridge during the meeting.