Funding Sources Explored for I-49 Project

Tolls, taxes and selling bonds backed by unclaimed property are some of the ideas floated to pay for construction of Interstate 49 South between Lafayette and the west bank of New Orleans.

The Advertiser reports speakers at an I-49 stakeholders meeting held Thursday in Lafayette discussed the need for I-49 and how to fund it.

Wes Bollinger, the Federal Highway Administration, made the point that there is not currently enough federal money to pay for I-49 in Louisiana.

State Treasurer John Kennedy says it appears Louisiana will have a $140 million to $180 million surplus at the end of the current fiscal year. He says that's one-time money that can be used only for certain things, including highway construction.