Push For A New I-10 Bridge In Lake Charles Gains Momentum

If you've ever traveled west toward Texas on Interstate 10 you've been across it. It's the bridge over the Calcasieu River in Lake Charles. It's a pretty impressive structure from a distance.

When you're on it you become less impressed with it. When you learn more about it you're probably  more inclined to take the I-210 Loop around Lake Charles and avoid the bridge all together.

The World War II Memorial Bridge as it is officially known carries about 70-thousand vehicles over it everyday. It was completed in 1952 and in 2009 it was giving the dubious distinction of being "basically intolerable" by the National Bridge Inventory. That's not a great distinction to have for a structure that carries so many lives across it everyday.

To help speed the process for replacing this intolerable bridge along the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has started a push. The program is called In for 10. This program will enlist the aid of business, civic, and  political leaders in creating the urgency needed to move forward with replacing this structure.

Congressman Charles Boustany and Senator David Vitter have both signed on as supporters of this movement. Since the anticipated tab for replacing the bridge is estimated to be in the millions of dollars it will take some help from Washington D.C. to get the federal highway funds necessary to get the project done.

If you're interested in lending your voice to support this  initiative you can contact the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance and join the In for 10 program.