Federal Highway Bill Could Mean Millions For Louisiana Roadways

Been stuck in traffic recently? Wish somebody would do something about our highways? Ever got caught in a traffic jam over the Atchafalaya Basin? The bridge in Lake Charles? The Mississippi River Bridge in Baton Rouge? Well if all of these questions have brought back memories that raise your blood pressure, we've got good news.

The new federal highway bill that is expected to go to a vote today in the United States House of Representatives contains nearly 100-million dollars in federal funds for Louisiana highways.  Congressman Garret Graves explained to the Louisiana Radio Network where the money might be put to good use.

Projects like crossing the Mississippi River, the new bridge that we need,  improvements to LA-30 and LA-1, adding capacity to I-10 and I-12.

Garret was part of a the meetings between members of the House and the Senate when they met to iron out differences between each chambers version of the proposed transportation bill. Garret suggested that the bill if passed in its current form could be very beneficial for Louisiana.

Louisiana should perform well under those grant programs to get the funds they need to help address these decades old traffic problems that are just growing by the day.

The bill will have to be passed by both the House and Senate before it can be signed by the President.