Boulet Administration Secures $50M Investment for I-49 Connector Interchange
BOULET ADMINISTRATION SECURES $50 MILLION FEDERAL AND STATE INVESTMENT FOR I-49 CONNECTOR KALISTE SALOOM-US90 INTERCHANGE
LCG partnership with Governor Jeff Landry and Louisiana DOTD advances major safety, mobility and freight improvements at one of the nation’s top freight bottlenecks
Lafayette, LA – The Boulet Administration, working in partnership with Governor Jeff Landry, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), and US Congressional Offices has secured a $28 million federal infrastructure award to advance the I-49 Connector Kaliste Saloom Road and US 90—one of Lafayette’s most significant transportation projects and one of the administration’s most competitive funding wins to date.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced the award through its Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program as part of $426 million in infrastructure investments across 12 states nationwide. The $28 million federal award will be matched by $31.5 Million from LA DOTD and $500K from LCG for a $50 million project phase.
“This is an exciting moment for Lafayette because, after decades of planning, we are finally positioned to move the I-49 Lafayette Connector closer to construction,” said Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet. “The Connector has been redesigned and refined, and we now have a project that will improve how traffic moves throughout Lafayette while strengthening the movement of goods and commerce through our region. These funds will allow us to complete the final engineering and other critical pre-construction work for the Kaliste Saloom interchange, an important first step toward getting this project on the ground.”
Louisiana DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet, Jr. said the project demonstrates the impact of sustained coordination between state and local leaders.
“US 90 is a critical transportation and freight corridor for Lafayette and for Louisiana, and this investment moves us closer to a safer, more reliable and more efficient transportation network,” Ledet said. “Projects of this scale require strong coordination across every level of government. DOTD is proud to partner with Mayor-President Boulet and Lafayette Consolidated Government to advance an interchange that will improve mobility today while supporting the continued development of the I-49 corridor and Louisiana’s long-term economic competitiveness.”
Transforming a Critical Lafayette Intersection
The project will transform the existing signalized intersection at Kaliste Saloom Road and US 90 into a grade-separated interchange, including ramps, flyover bridges and roadway improvements along approximately 2.2 miles of Kaliste Saloom Road and 3.5 miles of US 90.
The project is designed to:
- Improve safety by eliminating at-grade conflicts at the existing signalized intersection and reducing crash risks, including conflicts associated with the nearby highway-rail crossing;
- Reduce congestion and delays by replacing signalized operations with a grade-separated interchange, reducing queueing and improving travel-time reliability;
- Strengthen freight movement along US 90, a major freight corridor connecting Interstate 10 with regional and national markets, ports and industrial facilities;
- Support economic growth by improving the movement of people and goods through one of Lafayette’s most important commercial and transportation corridors; and
- Advance a critical segment of the I-49 corridor, contributing to the long-term development of a nationally significant transportation connection.
USDOT identified the Lafayette project as one that will eliminate one of the nation’s top 100 freight bottlenecks, emphasizing the project’s significance not only for Lafayette but for regional and national commerce.
“This is the kind of investment that positions Lafayette to compete and grow for decades to come,” said State Senator Brach Myers. “The Kaliste Saloom and US 90 interchange is critical to how people and commerce move through our region. Securing $28 million in competitive federal funding gives us an opportunity to make that movement safer and more efficient while strengthening Lafayette’s economic competitiveness. I’m proud to work alongside Mayor-President Boulet, LCG, DOTD and our federal partners to bring this significant investment home to Lafayette.”
$28 Million Secured Matched by $32 Million in State and Local Funds to Move the Project Forward
The award is part of $426 million in INFRA investments announced nationally by USDOT for projects designed to eliminate congestion bottlenecks, improve freight movement and expand critical highway infrastructure. Lafayette’s $28 million award represents approximately 6.6 percent of the total funding announced nationally in this round.
“We’re aggressively working to invest in infrastructure across Lafayette,” Boulet said. “Every outside dollar we bring home allows us to leverage our local investment and accomplish more for the people we serve—whether that means improving traffic flow, strengthening drainage, enhancing public safety or preparing Lafayette for continued growth. Securing an award of this size takes a tremendous amount of coordination, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped us get this application across the finish line. I especially want to thank Senator Bill Cassidy, Senator John Kennedy, Congressman Clay Higgins, Congressman Cleo Fields and our entire Louisiana legislative delegation for their support and advocacy for the I-49 Connector. The momentum is real and we’re ready to get this moving.”
The I-49 Connector / Kaliste Saloom–US 90 project builds upon LCG’s broader focus on transportation infrastructure that improves everyday mobility while preparing Lafayette for continued population and economic growth.
Additional information regarding the project timeline and next steps will be announced as project development advances.
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