Graves applauds rural roadway construction project awards in Louisiana

U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) on Aug. 25 lauded recent state construction contract awards totaling nearly $11.5 million for roadway projects and other infrastructure improvements in Louisiana.

“Building a better Louisiana means focusing on all corners of our state and the announced road project improvements is great news especially for our rural parishes,” Rep. Graves said. “With these funds, these highways will get a new layer of asphalt and undergo repairs to fix issues such as cracks or potholes.” 

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) on Aug. 12 announced the awards, which state DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson said are mostly “on extremely rural routes.” 

“Another important component to these announced funds is their flexible allocation was enabled by the extra $1 billion in federal dollars we’ve secured for transportation and infrastructure projects,” added Rep. Graves. “Together, we are emphasizing our priorities and dedicating funding where it will be most impactful.”

Specifically, the new funds build on the $1 billion in formula funding and reallocation dollars that Rep. Graves helped secure through the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, which was signed into law in 2015. Rep. Graves co-authored the bill and conferred on the bill’s legislative committee, resulting in Louisiana receiving $500 million in federal transportation funding, according to the congressman’s staff. 

“We will continue to advocate for regional priorities in South Louisiana as all transportation and infrastructure projects are intertwined,” Rep. Graves said. “Every chance we can take to advance our roads, bridges and drainage is a step in the right direction.”