ICYMI: Secretary Buttigieg Visits Gulf Coast, Highlights Administration Investments to Create Jobs and Drive Economic Growth
Federal investments will replace Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles, LA, and expand and modernize the Port of Port Arthur in Port Arthur, TX to spur economic development, speed the movement of people and goods, and improve safety for the communities.
Lake Charles, LA and Port Arthur, TX — This week U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg traveled to Lake Charles, Louisiana and Port Arthur, Texas to celebrate millions in new federal grant money coming to both communities that will support the construction of a new Calcasieu River Bridge in Lake Charles and port modernization and expansion at the Port of Port Arthur in the City of Port Arthur, Texas.
At the Calcasieu River Bridge, which is part of the I-10 freight corridor and a critical section for the nation’s supply chains, the Secretary joined Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter, Louisiana Department of Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson, other state and local officials, and union leaders to celebrate a $150 million Mega Grant to replace the existing structure with a new, modernized bridge that will relieve congestion and support safer and more efficient movement of freight trucks and vehicles through the area — while also creating an estimated 16,100 jobs in the surrounding area.
The Secretary continued his trip with a visit to the Port of Port Arthur, where he joined Port Director & CEO Larry Kelley, International Longshoremen’s Association Vice President Mark Bridges, City of Port Arthur Mayor Thurman Bartie, City Manager Ron Burton, and other city and port leaders to celebrate a $13.6 million RAISE Grant from USDOT that will support the conversion of an abandoned railyard into a modern cargo storage and staging area for the port. The project is expected to improve freight movement, while also creating good-paying jobs and spurring growth in the community.
The Mega Grant Program, created by the president’s historic infrastructure law, funds projects that are too large or complex for traditional funding programs — like the Calcasieu Bridge replacement. For more information about the program and a full list of this year’s awarded projects click HERE. To learn more about the RAISE program and see a full list of selected projects from the last round of funding, click HERE.
SELECT MEDIA COVERAGE:
Lake Charles, LA
Associated Press: Buttigieg’s Louisiana visit highlights infrastructure needs
“A new bridge will not just be good for southwest Louisiana or just Louisiana, but for the nation as a whole,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said.
The Advocate: Pete Buttigieg at old I-10 bridge in Lake Charles: ‘Talk doesn’t build bridges, funds do’
Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter said the bridge replacement marks an important moment in the region’s recovery from the slew of natural disasters that wreaked havoc in southwest Louisiana in 2020 and 2021. “While we still have many blue tarps in our community, we see progress every day,” Hunter said.
American Press: ‘A light — and a bridge — at the end of that proverbial tunnel’
KPLC-NBC News: Pete Buttigieg joins local leaders to celebrate $150 million grant for I-10 Bridge
Port Arthur, TX
12 News Now: Pete Buttigieg highlights what $13.6M grant to Port of Port Arthur will fund during tour Thursday
Beaumont Enterprise: U.S. Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits the Port of Port Arthur
“This RAISE Grant is transformative for the port community, and when I say port community, it’s not just the port, its Port Arthur,” Port of Port Arthur Director Larry Kelley said. “It will change about 30 acres of land that will enable us to handle offshore wind, it’ll help us support out military partners, it’ll help us handle other cargoes at this port.”
KFDM-CBS News: Transportation Secretary visits Port of Port Arthur and announces $13.6 million grant
