District 18 State Senator Jody Amedee (D-Gonzales) is announcing that work will begin soon on the long-awaited project of connecting LA 3213 over the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Gramercy through to LA 3127 near Vacherie. The State Bond Commission Thursday approved $4 million in funding to begin the project, which will be divided into three phases: construction of the 2-lane roadway extension from the bridge to LA 3127; one railroad overpass and service road; and another railroad overpass coupled with an addition 2-lane roadway, turning the project into a 4-lane highway from the bridge through to LA 3127. The total price of the project will come to almost $32 million.

The bridge over the Mississippi River opened in 1995, but since then drivers crossing to the West side had to immediately exit at River Road. The approval of this funding will begin the process of extending the highway through to LA 3127, which will provide for easier access to Vacherie, Thibodaux, and U.S. 90 through west St. Charles Parish.

"This project is vital to the future of the entire River Parishes area. It will be great for economic development as it opens up access to the area, and since it will run straight through to I-10, it will provide a critically needed hurricane evacuation route," Senator Amedee said. "The recent impact of Hurricane Ivan on southeast Louisiana illustrates the immediate need for alternate evacuation routes."

At Senator Amedee’s urging, Governor Blanco placed a high priority on the funding appropriation in the state’s capital outlay bill, which details how cash and revenue from state bond sales will be used in the 2004-05 fiscal year for construction, renovation and repair projects throughout the state.