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Port officials urge swift funding for I‑69 service road to connect inland port to I‑49
Summary
Caddo Parish Port Commission leaders told DOTD the I‑69 Service Road is ready for design and right‑of‑way work, estimated at about $80 million, and asked the committee to act quickly because inflation and federal grant timing raise costs the longer the project is delayed.
Eric England, executive director of the Caddo Parish Port Commission, asked DOTD and the committee to prioritize a 10‑mile I‑69 Service Road to link the port complex to Interstate 49.
England said the service road is a relatively short connector (about 10 miles) that would link the port's 5,000‑acre complex to I‑49 and estimated preliminary costs at roughly $80 million. He told committee members the project already has local and some federal matching dollars—he listed a remaining $15 million from prior record‑of‑decision work and said local parishes and an INFRA grant helped reach the current funding level—and argued that each year of delay adds roughly 3% in inflation to the project budget.
"Time is of the essence for this project," England said, asking the committee for support so design, right‑of‑way acquisition and construction can begin within elected officials' terms of office.
DOTD staff acknowledged the port's work and told the audience DOTD is surveying, will begin design and anticipates right‑of‑way acquisition steps. Staff said they are coordinating funding and welcomed further conversations with the port and local stakeholders to finalize a delivery plan.
