Press Releases

Baton Rouge, LA – Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today issued the following statement after the groundbreaking ceremony for the Pecue Lane/I-10 Interchange Phase II Project.

"This is another legacy infrastructure project that's coming off our ‘To Do' list. Like the Comite project, East Baton Rouge flood control, Washington/Terrace St. exit and I-10 widening, Pecue is another project that's been on the books or remained a high priority for decades. Like all these projects, the first dollar was directed by Congress. In all, nearly $4 billion in infrastructure funds has been awarded to Louisiana since 2015 that will result in historic traffic improvements and flood protection for the Capital Region." Graves said.

Since 2015, Louisiana has benefited from more than $800 million in additional new federal highway funds. As a co-author of the 2015 federal highway bill (FAST Act), Graves negotiated an additional $500 million to Louisiana in federal formula funds, and co-authored the new INFRA grant, which has resulted in hundreds of millions from INFRA and other federal sources to Louisiana projects like the Washington St. exit relocation.

Last August the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) awarded $80,699,190 to Louisiana in redistributed federal funding, with a portion of that for the I-10 Interchange at Pecue Lane to provide for bridge construction and additional right-of-way acquisition to help move the project forward.

"Pair this project with the Washington Street exit relocation and I-10 widening project, we are finally seeing some traffic progress that we so desperately need, including I-10 lane addition (Highland Road to Prairieville/Dutchtown exit). Additional federal financing will lead to I-10 improvements between the Lobdell/LA415 exit and the I-10/I-12 split." Graves said.

Graves noted that State Reps. Rick Edmonds, Paula Davis, Steve Carter, Franklin Foil, and Councilmembers Dwight Hudson, Barbara Frieberg, Matt Watson, the late Buddy Amoroso, Denise Amoroso and former member Joel Boé all played equally important roles in today's announcement in addition to Governor John Bel Edwards and Mayor Sharon Weston Broome who were recognized at today's ceremony.

Click here to watch Rep. Graves and State Representative Rick Edmonds discuss Pecue Lane in 2016.