US-based Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD) is set to solicit a potential public-private partnership (P3) for the Belle Chasse Bridge and Tunnel replacement project.

The authority has also received approval of the Louisiana Joint Transportation Committee to utilise the P3 contracting process and advance to devise a cooperative arrangement with the private sector.

DOTD development secretary Shawn Wilson said: “This project, as well as others, would have been funded under the gas tax proposal that the legislature did not pass last year.

“Recognising that not moving forward is unacceptable, innovative funding mechanisms such as Public Private Partnerships using tolls as match and federal discretionary funding opportunities will play a role in our future development.”

DOTD has initiated the process by issuing a Notice of Intent (NOI) seeking applications from interested private companies and investors to participate in the proposal process.

“This project, as well as others, would have been funded under the gas tax proposal that the legislature did not pass last year.”

As a separate environmental process is set to culminate in December this year, the final project details are yet to be confirmed.

The project is to replace the old and unreliable infrastructure and will see the construction of a new mid-level fixed-span bridge that will replace the existing moveable bridge and tunnel.

Last week, DOTD announced the start of construction on the Government St Road Diet project in East Baton Rouge Parish.

The road stretches more than four miles and once completed, it will see one travel lane in each direction, with a two-way-left-turn-lane in the centre.

Additional accessible ramps and bicycle lanes will also be installed in each direction.