About
The LA 415 Connector will be a new link between LA 1 and LA 415 at Interstate 10 (I-10) south of the City of Port Allen and west of the I-10 Mississippi River Bridge in West Baton Rouge Parish. When complete, the project will deliver 2.7 miles of a new four-lane roadway to connect LA 1 to I-10, a new bridge over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, a new interchange for LA 415 (Lobdell Hwy.) at I-10, and a new interchange at LA 1 near LA 988 (Beaulieu Lane). Several local street "backage roads", intersection improvements, and access management treatments will improve traffic circulation and safety at both ends of the project corridor.
Current Status
Public projects receiving federal funding must go through an environmental evaluation process prior to approval. This is often referred to as the “NEPA” process in reference to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1967 and related legislation and federal agency guidance. The LA 415 Connector project completed the Environmental Assessment (EA) process and received a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) from FHWA in April 2007. During intervening years funding sources were sought, the right-of-way acquisition process began, and a vessel survey on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was completed. A need for modifications to the project design became evident to address this new information. When changes to the design of an approved project occur, a reevaluation becomes necessary to ensure the project continues to conform to the environmental constraints and criteria described in the FONSI. This LA 415 Connector project completed an initial re-evaluation in 2023 and is progressing through a second NEPA re-evaluation process during 2026 to address recent design changes. The table below provides a summary of these key design changes.
Previously Approved | Design Change Requiring Reevaluation |
|---|---|
Reconfigured interchange (Single Point Urban Interchange -SPUI) at LA 1 will provide ramps to each of the four directions, and U turns to support certain movements. |
Financials
The LA 415 Connector Project, identified as State and Federal Aid Project No. H.005121, is being delivered by LADOTD through a Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) delivery method.
The anticipated total project cost (calculated in 2023) is $268.00M. The project is receiving TIFIA Assistance in the amount of $88.30M and funding from Act 443 in the amount of $125.0M. The TIFIA program is a U.S. federal credit assistance initiative under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) which provides low-interest, flexible financing for project of national or regional significance and HB Act 443 provides dedicated State funding both of which allows DOTD to advance Phase 1 of the Project Additional funds will come from Primary Revenue Pledge(s) and State or Local Appropriations.