On Wednesday, October 16, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy announced that I-69 will be coming to North Louisiana with the Port of Caddo-Bossier I-69 Connector.
Eric England, Executive Director of the Port of Caddo-Bossier, said, “Today is one of the most incredible days in the Port’s history. I-69 will be present in Louisiana, connecting the Port of Caddo-Bossier to the Interstate 49.”
This $22.6 million U.S. Department of Transportation INFRA grant will connect I-49 to the future I-69 Corridor Project Frontage Road. Cassidy said, “The Caddo-Bossier I-69 connector will be one more reason why companies choose to invest in North Louisiana and allow us to build a 2050 economy.”
Cassidy said the infrastructure bill’s focus on economic development and community growth in Northwest Louisiana will be achieved in part by generating more jobs, which will encourage families to stay in Shreveport, Bossier and surrounding areas.
Cassidy noted that road and bridge infrastructure in Louisiana requires significant investment, with $5.9 billion allocated through infrastructure accounts. The INFRA grant provides an additional funding boost, increased by four times the amount available for local and regional projects, on top of the initial $5.9 billion.
“The Northwest Louisiana DOTD has put together a proposal, applied to the dollars,” Cassidy said. “They’re pulling it down. This is what I hoped would happen and this is what’s happening.”
This connector will alleviate port traffic on Highway 1, LA Highway 3132, Bert Kouns and the Inner Loop. England said, “We are going to create a direct shot from the port to I-49 so that 18-wheelers can access the nation’s interstate system from the port.”
This is the first leg of I-69 in Louisiana, and according to England, this was something many thought they would never see in their lives. I-69 is a mid-continental highway that connects Laredo, Texas, to Port Huron, Michigan. This connector will be the first on I-69 in this area.
England said construction of this 10-mile connector could take place as early as the end of 2025. “This project is already in design,” England said.
More: What did Jeff Landry talk about during his visit to Shreveport?
Makenzie Boucher is a reporter at the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: I-69 will extend into Louisiana. Here’s the impact
