Louisiana’s roads, bridges and highways are the backbone of the Bayou State’s economy, security and energy industry. From hurricane evacuation routes to major freight corridors, our transportation system protects our freedom and helps connect Louisiana’s abundant energy to the rest of America.
Yet the condition of Louisiana’s infrastructure also puts public safety and security at risk. Among Louisiana’s 12,684 bridges, more than 11% are considered structurally deficient and in poor condition,
Aging bridges and congested freight bottlenecks create more road hazards, slow emergency response and drive up costs for everyday goods and groceries.
The current federal surface transportation law expires Sept. 30. If Congress does not pass a new, multi-year funding bill by then, Louisiana risks losing the long-term certainty needed to plan, fund and deliver critical infrastructure projects.
That’s why the BUILD America 250 Act is so important. It would preserve and grow current investment, improve project delivery and ensure taxpayer dollars are spent efficiently. After earning bipartisan support at the committee level, the legislation is now primed for a House floor vote.
We can see how reliable federal investments work in Louisiana, like the recently completed Interstate 20 rehabilitation project in Bossier City, which strengthens a vital commercial corridor and keeps traffic flowing smoothly.
Our representative, House Speaker Mike Johnson, helped secure the federal funding to complete that upgrade. Now, Speaker Johnson and his colleagues, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, should schedule a vote and pass the BUILD America 250 Act to keep Louisiana building and moving.
RELDON OWENS
CEO, Louisiana Associated General Contractors of America
CASEY CRAWFORD
board chair, Louisiana Associated General Contractors of America
president, Grady Crawford Construction