The companies responsible for tolling once construction finishes on the new Interstate-10 Calcasieu River Bridge have been mired in controversy over problems with their tolling infrastructure on another south Louisiana bridge, leading to lawsuits and questions from public officials about the state’s continued partnership with them.
Public infrastructure company Plenary and tolling operator Kapsch’s work on the Belle Chasse Bridge in Plaquemines Parish prompted widespread complaints from residents after it opened last year, who said the tolling system frequently malfunctioned and led to locals receiving fee bills as high as $7,000. Under pressure, state officials suspended tolling last October on the Belle Chasse Bridge while the state and companies faced lawsuits from Plaquemines Parish and a group of residents.
In the meantime, Louisiana has moved forward with the same two companies as the lead developer and tolling operator for the I-10 bridge in Lake Charles, which broke ground in April and is expected to finish construction in 2031. The Lake Charles bridge’s toll would be the only required one on I-10 spanning the nation’s east to west coasts…