Yesterday, Calcasieu Bridge Partners (CBP), comprising Sacyr, Acciona and Plenary Americas, signed the I-10 interstate highway P3 with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD).
The project comprises the design, construction, finance, operation, and maintenance of this 5.5-mile (9 km) infrastructure for a 50-year term, calling for a $2.1 billion investment (€ 1.9 billion).
The I-10 widening works include the construction of a corridor with six lanes and the implementation of a ‘free flow’ toll, together with various structures, ramps, and approaches to the new elevated structure.
The new Calcasieu River Bridge will replace the existing bridge, which was built in the early 1950s, and according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. This modern infrastructure will dramatically increase capacity, enhance comfort, and improve road safety.
Construction works are expected to start in 2024 and completion is scheduled for 2031. This road section is expected to accommodate an average daily traffic volume of 90,000 vehicles by 2040.
CBP is comprised of Sacyr (30%), Acciona (30%) and Plenary Americas (40%), with construction works divided equally in a Sacyr-Acciona joint venture.
Under the signed comprehensive agreement, the State of Louisiana will receive 15% equity once the new bridge is open to traffic.
This is Sacyr’s first transportation infrastructure P3 project in the U.S., one of the company’s strategic target markets where it aims to undergo significant growth in coming years.
Largest transportation project in Louisiana
The I-10 Calcasieu River bridge project is the largest in the history of the LA DOTD and was one of the largest infrastructure contracts commissioned in North America in 2023.
The new infrastructure is intended to preserve and recognize the heritage of this historic bridge and its final design will be determined in close participatory planning with the client and citizens.
Project plans include the modification and relocation of the current roads and approaches, the dismantling of the current bridge once the new one is operational, as well as the operation and maintenance of the bridge and the associated road section.
