Scalise Celebrates Groundbreaking to Elevate LA Highway 1

WASHINGTON, D.C.—House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) today celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony announcing Phase Two of the LA Highway 1 (LA 1) Improvement Project to elevate the remaining 8.3-mile stretch of highway connecting Golden Meadow and Leeville. The groundbreaking marked a significant milestone towards ensuring critical access to America's oil and natural gas supply as well as protection for thousands of Louisiana families who rely on LA 1 as a main hurricane evacuation route.

"Elevating LA 1 has long been a top priority of mine, and today's monumental groundbreaking is a significant step forward for our region's safety and the nation's energy security. I'm proud to have worked with local and state leaders to get to this moment after I worked with former Transportation Secretary Chao to secure the largest INFRA grant in the country in 2020. Elevating LA 1 ensures our state will continue to play an essential role in American energy dominance for decades to come," said Whip Scalise.

"Looking back during my tenure at the U. S. Department of Transportation, I am proud of the investments we made through INFRA to improve major highways and critical infrastructure across the country to better enhance safety and support economic growth. Today, we celebrate the investment made to elevate LA 1 that I worked on closely with Congressman Scalise to ensure reliable access to our nation's offshore energy production and support our nation's economy,"said The Honorable Elaine Chao, 18th Secretary of Transportation.

"This project is a piece of a much grander vision for Louisiana, and it prides me to say that we have continued to invest in infrastructure and development. This corridor will provide relief for regional transportation needs, creating a resilient structure all while stimulating economic growth. This project was a priority of this administration because of the needs to the economy of the state and the nation. I'm proud of Sec. Wilson and all the people who worked to secure the nation's second largest federal INFRA grant,"said Governor Edwards.

"LA 1 is not only a win for Louisiana but for the nation as well. Infrastructure creates jobs and ignites economic development. More than 1,300 trucks and heavy vehicles travel the LA 1 southern corridor daily to support port activity and energy production. Elevating LA 1 solves the challenges presented when port activity comes to a halt because of flooding on the existing at-grade highway. We are advancing transportation to make Louisiana a better place to live, work, and visit. This project is an example of how to move large projects forward. I applaud the DOTD staff who worked tirelessly to secure the INFRA grant and to the elected officials and private industry who made this project delivery possible," said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D.

"This day has finally arrived after many years of people working together to see the elevated highway completed. There are so many to thank for this day, especially Congressman Scalise, Governor Edwards and Secretary Wilson for making this project a priority. Both private and governmental entities stepped up and contributed to this project alongside the USDOT grant award. This elevated highway will allow Lafourche Parish to continue to be the gateway to our Nation's premier energy port and will significantly reduce downtime following hurricanes and high tides,"said Lafourche Parish President Archie Chiasson.

"Who knew that we would need over $800 million to build this highway? None of us knew! To get creative, I proposed I ask industry to be in a civic-based, multi-million-dollar matching funds commitment. This became the greatest professional challenge of my fundraising career. Twenty companies did something they had never done before – help a community leverage state and federal dollars to build state-owned infrastructure. This tells me that there is still a strong civic consciousness across American board rooms,"said LA 1 Coalition Executive Director Henri Boulet.

"This Project is a testament to the hard work of so many people. It's about persistence, perseverance, and collaboration of all levels of government, a community, and industry. With the completion of this resilient connection to all energy that can be harnessed in the Gulf of Mexico, I'm excited for the future,"said Port Fourchon Executive Director Chett Chiasson.

Background:

The LA 1 Improvement Project includes four phases to elevate and improve highway infrastructure from U.S. Highway 90 at Mathews, La. to Port Fourchon/Grand Isle. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded $135 million in Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant funding to elevate LA 1 between Golden Meadow and Leeville, which was the largest INFRA grant award in the country that year. LA 1 is the sole-access highway to Port Fourchon, which services over 16 percent of America's domestic crude oil production and 4 percent of natural gas production.

• In 2017, Scalise led the Louisiana Congressional Delegation in making a push for the LA 1 project when the Greater Lafourche Port Commission originally applied for the INFRA grant.
• In January 2020, DOT released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the INFRA grant program, making available more than $900 million for American infrastructure investments.
• On January 24, 2020, Scalise hosted a meeting with Governor John Bel Edwards regarding the state's forthcoming application seeking federal INFRA funding for elevating LA 1. They were joined by Louisiana State Senate President Page Cortez, Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, Louisiana DOTD Secretary Shawn Wilson, LA 1 Coalition Director Henri Boulet, Port Fourchon Executive Director Chett Chiasson, and federal Department of Transportation officials.
• On January 29, 2020, Scalise met with Secretary Chao to discuss Louisiana's forthcoming DOT INFRA grant application for elevating LA 1.
• On February 11, 2020, Scalise spoke with Secretary Chao to reiterate his support for the INFRA grant application for LA 1 and the priority of this project for Southeast Louisiana.
• On February 21, 2020, Scalise led the Louisiana Congressional Delegation in writing a letter to Secretary Chao expressing their strong support for the INFRA grant application for LA 1.
• On May 18, 2020, Scalise spoke with Secretary Chao to reiterate support for the INFRA grant application for LA 1.
• On June 15, 2020, Scalise announced that DOT awarded $135 million in INFRA grant funding to elevate LA 1 between Golden Meadow and Leeville, which was the largest INFRA grant award in the country that year.