[StBernard] Rep. Melancon Takes Part in Groundbreaking Ceremony For Next Phase of La. 1 Improvement Project

[Westley Annis]

	FOURCHON, LA. - U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon joined members of the LA
1 Coalition, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and
others for a groundbreaking ceremony in Fourchon for the next phase of the
Louisiana Highway 1 improvement project: elevating the road from Leeville to
Port Fourchon.  
	 
	"La. 1 is a critical lifeline to Louisiana's 'working coast,' which
supplies much of the energy that keeps our nation moving," said Rep.
Melancon.  "More importantly, La. 1 is the only hurricane evacuation route
for the tens of thousands of coastal residents, tourists, and offshore
workers. When La. 1 floods, as is happening more and more often as the road
sinks because of coastal erosion, these people are left stranded with no way
to flee oncoming storms.  I am proud to have played a part in this project.
I will continue to work in Congress to get the additional federal funding we
need to complete the La. 1 project."   
	 
	Rep. Melancon has worked in Congress to secure over $125.5 million
in federal funding and loans for the La. 1 improvement project, which will
eventually elevate the highway from Golden Meadow to Fourchon and protect it
from flooding.  In 2005, Rep. Melancon worked to secure $60 million for the
project through the highway funding authorization bill (SAFETEA LU, H.R. 3).
The La. 1 project also received a $60 million loan in 2005 from the federal
TIFIA program, after Rep. Melancon urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Norm
Mineta to approve the large loan because of the highway's regional and
national significance as the sole evacuation route and access road to Port
Fourchon and the LOOP.  The project has also received over $1.7 million
through the Coastal Impact Assista! nce Program, which Rep. Melancon helped
establish with the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  Rep. Melancon has obtained
$3.8 million for La. 1 through the annual transportation appropriations
process and has requested additional federal funding for the critical
project in this year's appropriations bill.  
	 
	More information about the La. 1 improvement project can be found at
the LA 1 Coalition's website (www.la1coaliton.org
<http://www.la1coaliton.org/> ) and www.la1project.com
<http://www.la1project.com/> . 
	 
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