DOTD reports LTIF delivery on schedule; bridge bundling underway and Mississippi River crossing enters 12‑month NEPA phase
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Summary
DOTD told the Joint Transportation Committee Nov. 5 it has let most LTIF 1 and 2 projects on or ahead of schedule and is using bridge bundling and emergency procurement to accelerate deliveries; the department also announced a 12‑month NEPA environmental assessment for a proposed Mississippi River crossing.
The Department of Transportation and Development briefed the joint committee on Nov. 5 on the status of the 2024 infrastructure appropriations and several major bridge efforts.
Secretary Lade reported that the first tranche (LTIF 1, approximately $285 million) has 62 projects already let and that LTIF 2 includes about $249 million in 37 projects; DOTD said most projects are on or ahead of schedule and that an overall budget surplus across the program may fund five projects that had not initially been included in LTIF 2. Secretary Lade said DOTD is also doing more in-house inspection and other work to stretch dollars and accelerate delivery.
Archie Chasson, executive director of the Office of Highway Construction, described a bridge-bundling approach grouping 62 bridges into multiple bundles with eight engineering and contracting teams; six preliminary/final design sets have been issued to contractors and demolition and piling sequencing is timed to avoid inactive job sites. Chasson said emergency procurement authorities in the appropriation act are being used to accelerate work.
DOTD announced the start of a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessment for a new Mississippi River crossing; three alternatives were advanced from an earlier long list and public engagement is planned beginning with community outreach in December and formal public hearings in quarters 2–3 of 2026. The agency estimated an initial cost approximately $2 billion and said it will publish refined cost estimates during the EA process.
DOTD also said it opened a local customer service center in Belle Chasse related to tolling issues and that it has initiated dispute resolution with Plenary Infrastructure BelleChase; tolling there remains suspended while DOT and the company pursue mediation and related remedies.
—Reported from the Nov. 5 Joint Transportation, Highway and Public Works Committee meeting in Baton Rouge.