Louisiana has had its shares of tragedy and hard storms both on its residents and structures throughout its communities. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg along with Lousiana officials toured local road projects throughout the state.
"Through tragedy, Louisiana has become a leader," Deputy Secretary of Transportation Polly Trottenberg said at a brief news conference in July that included Louisiana Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter.
The Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration will give the state $134 million in a span of the next five years. This money will come from $7.3 billion of federal money that has been set aside for transportation impacts due to climate change.
The federal project is called the PROTECT program and is part of Biden administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. PROTECT's purpose is to help states and communities with being fully prepared during extreme weather conditions. Under the program, Louisiana will receive $134 million in total with $25 million coming in this fiscal year.
“We know the devastation hurricanes and coastal erosion can cause to our infrastructure,” Sen. Bill Cassidy, who co-authored the legislation, said Monday. “I worked on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically to ensure Louisiana has these resources to strengthen our roads and bridges, and keep our communities safe and resilient.”
Twenty-eight point eight million of the one hundred-thirty four million is set to be dedicated to two sets of bridges located on Interstate 10 between Michoud and the onramp to the US 11 bridge. Louisiana has a list of roads that need to be elevated so this program will help with the elevation.
