Bill to name new Mississippi River bridge after President Trump moves forward

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A push to name a proposed new Mississippi River bridge after President Donald Trump has moved forward at the Louisiana State Capitol.

House Bill 221 passed through the full House by a vote of 68 to 26 on Monday, March 23. The proposal will now head to the Senate side for debate by lawmakers there.

Louisiana State Rep. Michael Echols, a Republican, said the intent behind the bill is to get the attention and support of the federal government. As a result, lawmakers hope to receive federal funding for the project and eliminate the need for a toll on the bridge.

According to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, about $400 million has already been invested in the effort to build the new bridge. However, officials are still working on a funding plan and have not ruled out tolling.

Louisiana State Transportation Secretary Glenn Ledet said formal public meetings will be held. He added that he expects to either determine a final bridge location by the end of 2026 or move forward with another study.

At this time, three possible locations for the new bridge all cross over the river between LA 1 and LA 30 in Iberville Parish.

The following additional details about the locations have been released:

• PLAN 1: Crosses river between LA 1 just south of Plaquemine near Old Evergreen Road and LA 30 just south of the EBR/Iberville Parish line near Anytime Fitness, which is about two miles south of where Bluebonnet Boulevard connects with LA 30.
• PLAN 2: Crosses river between LA 1 near the Shintech main access road and LA 30 just south of the EBR/Iberville Parish line near Anytime Fitness, which is about two miles south of where Bluebonnet Boulevard connects with LA 30.
• PLAN 3: Crosses river between LA 1 near the Shintech Plant main access road and LA 30 at Gordon Simon LeBlanc Drive near the St. Gabriel Community Center.

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