Four more highway projects, including the widening of Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge, will be funded with Louisiana’s share of the federal stimulus package after receiving quick approval Monday from lawmakers.
The $133 million list of projects, proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration, used up the remaining portion of the state’s $300 million in stimulus money for highways. The largest project on Monday’s list was $72 million for the I-10 widening.
The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved the spending without discussion or objection – nearly two months after lawmakers questioned whether the list represented state priorities for road money and complained they had too little say in choosing the projects.
The committee’s action requires no further approval by the House or Senate.
In total, lawmakers have agreed to more than $300 million in highway spending with stimulus dollars, projects decided by the Jindal administration. State Transportation and Development Secretary William Ankner said his department has already started contracting for the work.
“The good news is that all of these to date are coming in a little below what our estimates are,” Ankner said.
Monday’s list included the I-10 project; $34 million for a U.S. 90 interchange in Iberia Parish; $24 million for Interstate 210 preservation work in Calcasieu Parish; and $3 million to upgrade existing lanes of LA 28 in Rapides Parish.
Other stimulus money has been earmarked for I-10 work in the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson Parish; for I-49 North to Arkansas; and for a Larose Bridge replacement in Lafourche Parish.
Topics Legislation Louisiana Oklahoma
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