HISTORY
For years, I-49 South has been a project worked on by various groups and parishes with much success along the way. The I-49 South Coalition unifies and builds upon all of those efforts into a focused organization to fight for the advocacy, promotion, and funding for the completion of I-49 South. Now is the time to refocus our efforts on making the dream of I-49 South come true
Attract more business and industry to South Louisiana
Create an area that our children and grandchildren can call home for a lifetime
Finally have the interstate that our economy and our families deserve •Have a safer and more efficient evacuation during hurricane season
Have a safer and more efficient evacuation system during hurricane season
WHY I-49 SOUTH?
Aspects of the project equally as important to the region and our families:
Safety: Too many accidents, too many injuries, and too many deaths occur along Highway 90. An interstate would provide for much safer travel for our families and visitors
Evacuation: An interstate would facilitate a safer and more efficient evacuation during hurricane season
Congestion Relief: Reducing delay times and congestion that currently exist along Highway 90
Federal Marine Highway System: Providing a key corridor to Canada for the freight from larger ships coming through the Panama Canal
I-49 South is a major piece towards completing our regional infrastructure network. Our region already possesses great ports, railways, and airports. An interstate.
FUTURE EXPECTATIONS
Early Estimates suggest the total cost of improving the highway system along current US-90 from Lafayette to New Orleans by connecting the current terminus of I-49 in Lafayette (intersection of I-10 and US-167) at I-10 Superdome in New Orleans (intersection of US-90 Bus and I-10) to be $4.5 billion. The project is broken down into segments and phases that will link together.
Strong media presence to bring awareness to the general public, as well as, hosting events along the corridor to promote the importance of the project.
Get as much of the project as “shovel ready” as possible, and have these projects ready to go to bid when monies become available.
Identify and explore funding mechanics (tolls, grants, public/private partnerships, federal funding, etc.). Complete Environment Assessments throughout the corridor.
To foster regional support and maximize the economic development potential of an uninterrupted, safe interstate system. This critical component will connect America’s Energy Corridor seamlessly to the rest of the country.
