Louisiana House passes Calcasieu Parish tolling authority legislation

LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - Legislation to create a Calcasieu Parish tolling authority that would work with the Department of Transportation and Development on the I-10 bridge, passed the House 93-1 and will head to the Senate.

House Bill 561, authored by Lake Charles Rep. Mark Abraham, would create a toll authority in Calcasieu Parish.

Earlier this year, a task force suggested building an entirely new bridge to replace the aging Interstate 10 bridge over the Calcasieu River. While they suggest a private-public funding mechanism, part of the project could be paid for by a toll.

The amount of the toll is still up in the air, though. Abraham said the amount will be the telling factor if this project will succeed.