The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development received $60.8 million in additional federal funds for highway projects. (Louisiana Department Transportation and Development photo)

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) recently received $60.8 million in additional federal funds for highway projects. The department qualified for the additional federal funds after successfully allocating the full amount of its available federal funding to construction projects for the 2016 to 17 federal fiscal year.

“It is a great day when we can bring the tax dollars of hardworking Louisianans back to our own state,” Edwards said. “These funds will allow us to continue many of the road and infrastructure projects we need to complete. I am happy to announce the advancement of multiple projects across the state and I am dedicated to continuing to improve the roads and bridges we use every day.”

Each year the Federal Highway Administration allocates funds that were not used by other states or national programs.

“We can certainly put this nearly $61 million to good use,” said DOTD Sec. Shawn D. Wilson. “Without a long-term, sustainable revenue source, the state may not be able to apply for redistributed funds in coming years because in 2019 the current revenue will not be sufficient to match annual federal allocations. These funds are essential to maintaining the existing state highway system, which consists of more than 16,000 miles of roadway and nearly 13,000 bridges. I'm proud of the good work the DOTD employees have done to obligate all of our annual federal funds and to receive these end-of-year funds.”

This additional funding will allow the department to advance various construction projects over the next few months.

For a complete list, visit www.dotd.la.gov.

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