(The Center Square) — Lawmakers on Tuesday approved a public-private partnership to build a $2.1 billion toll bridge over the Calcasieu River after officials renegotiated an initial deal rejected in October.
Joe Donahue, the newly appointed Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, presented a series of changes the department negotiated to bring down the cost of tolls and the burden on taxpayers to replace the 71-year-old Calcasieu River Bridge near Lake Charles.
State law requires approval from the Legislature, and both chambers represented on the Joint Transportation, Highways and Public Works Committee voted Tuesday to approve the new agreement with only two lawmakers opposed.
The vote reverses an 8-6 decision in October to reject the public-private partnership, known as a P3.
“No one likes tolls, but I think we have a better one now,” said Sen. Mark Abraham, R-Lake Charles.
The renegotiated agreement would expand a 25-cent toll with a vehicle size limit for locals to all noncommercial vehicles in a 5-parish area. It would reduce the toll for large trucks from $12.50 with a transponder to $8.25. Large trucks without transponders would pay $12.36 instead of $18.73.