Is I-69 coming to north Louisiana?

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy announced that I-69 will be coming to north Louisiana with the Port of Caddo-Bossier I-69 Connector.

Eric England, Executive Director of the Port of Caddo-Bossier, said, “Today is one of the most incredible days in the Port’s history. I-69 will have a presence in Louisiana, connecting the Port of Caddo-Bossier to Interstate 49.”

This $22.6 million U.S. Department of Transportation INFRA grant will connect I-49 to the future I-69 Corridor Project Frontage Road. Cassidy said, “The Caddo-Bossier I-69 connector will be yet another reason companies choose to invest in North Louisiana and allow us to build an economy for 2050.”

Cassidy said the infrastructure bill’s focus on economic development and community growth in Northwest Louisiana will be achieved, in part, by generating more jobs, which will incentivize families to stay in Shreveport, Bossier, and surrounding areas.

Cassidy noted that Louisiana’s road and bridge infrastructure requires substantial investment, with $5.9 billion allocated through infrastructure bills. The INFRA grant provides an additional funding boost, increased by four times the amount available for localized and regional projects, beyond the initial $5.9 billion.

“The Northwest Louisiana DOTD put together a proposal, applied to the dollars,” Cassidy said. “They’re pulling it down. This is what I hoped would happen and this is what’s happening.”

This connector will alleviate Port traffic on Highway 1, LA Highway 3132, Bert Kouns and the Inner Loop. England said, “We’re going to have a direct shot from the Port to I-49 so that 18-wheelers can access the nation’s interstate system from the Port.”

This is the first leg of I-69 in Louisiana, and according to England, it was something many never thought they would see in their lifetime. I-69 is a mid-continental highway that connects Laredo, Texas, to Port Huron, Michigan. This connector will be the first of I-69 in this area.

England said that construction on this 10-mile connector can be seen as soon as late 2025. “This project is in design already,” England said.

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Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com.