U.S. 90-La. 318 interchange project moving forward

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is moving forward with the construction of I-49 South by pursuing a design-build contract for the construction of the U.S.90/La. 318 interchange, DOTD Secretary Sherri LeBas said in a news release.
“The completion of I-49 South is a priority for the state,” LeBas said. “With the support of Gov. Jindal, we’re able to pursue innovative ways, such as the design-build method, to move us one step closer to achieving our goal of upgrading U.S. 90 to interstate standards.”
DOTD issued a notice of intent this morning seeking a design-build firm to construct the next section of I-49 South, the U.S. 90/La. 318 interchange in St. Mary Parish, the release stated.
The proposed project includes upgrading the existing U.S. 90 and La. 318 signalized intersection to a full control of access, grade-separated interchange including the reconstruction of the U.S. 90 frontage roads to provide local access to La. 318, according to the release.
As part of the plan, the project would improve connectivity for industrial and freight transport to the sugar mill and port-related industries, as well as increase capacity and improve overall mobility, the release stated.
The estimated project cost is $55 million to $65 million and will be funded by a combination of federal and state funds. The contract is expected to be executed in June 2015 and completed in three years.
In December 2013, DOTD announced the winning bid for another I-49 South design-build project in Lafayette Parish. The $57.1 million project will widen U.S. 90 along the U.S. 90/I-49 South corridor from north of Ambassador Caffery Parkway to Albertson’s Parkway in Lafayette Parish. The contract was executed in February. The project is estimated to begin construction by the end of this month and completed in three years, the release stated.