Lawmakers and the Governor are battling over funding for a new Baton Rouge area bridge over the Mississippi. Governor John Bel Edwards wants 500 million set aside for a new Baton Rouge area bridge this year, but House lawmakers only signed off on 100 million in a budget passed out of the Lower Chamber.
River Ridge Senator Kirk Talbot told WWL’s Tommy Tucker this morning everyone wants to get a new bridge in the Capital Region, but the debate is over how soon, and with what funds. Talbot said House lawmakers suggested there are other more pressing needs and shovel-ready projects that are available, instead of stashing away 500 million dollars for future use.
“They don’t even have a location yet picked out for that bridge so why should we set aside 500 million dollars when we have a lot of pressing needs with roads and bridges,” said Talbot, summarizing his colleagues’ arguments.
The bridge will certainly cost over a billion dollars when all is said and done. Talbot said it doesn’t all have to come from government funding. A public-private partnership to create a toll bridge could be one option.
“It is certainly being discussed that is what a lot of states do to fund those kinds of big projects,” said Talbot.
