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Louisiana 1/Billy Tauzin Energy Corridor (Corridor 44)
Routing
The only corridor added as part of the Transportation Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2002 (passed December 2001) is Corridor 44, Louisiana 1, also known as the Billy Tauzin Energy Corridor (per Section 1933 of the SAFETEA-LU of 2005). This corridor runs from Grand Isle, Louisiana, along Louisiana 1, north to the intersection with U.S. 90.
Connections to this high priority route can be made from Interstate 10, via the Sunshine Bridge (Louisiana 70) or the Gramercy/Wallace Bridge (Louisiana 20).
This corridor was added because Louisiana 1 provides access to a significant number of oil and gas production facilities both on and offshore. In case of a major hurricane or flooding, having a reliable route from the oilfields, Port Fourchon, and Grand Isle is critical. In addition, the road suffers from a high accident rate due to the high volume of truck traffic along Louisiana 1. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Billy Tauzin were responsible for adding the corridor in December 2001 to the High Priority Corridor list.
Improvements
The improvements to Louisiana 1 include expansion to four lanes and a more direct connection from Louisiana 1 to the Interstate Highway System, including Future Interstate 49 and Interstate 10. The existing Leeville Bridge (drawbridge) just north of Port Fourchon is seen as inadequate and would likely be replaced or bypassed.
Some of the widening projects south of U.S. 90 are already in progress as of April 2003, but other projects remain unfunded. Between Larose and U.S. 90, two alternate routes for the improved corridor are being considered: Louisiana 24 via Bourg or Louisiana 1 to Raceland. In places, the corridor will be not only four-lane divided, but also elevated and potentially freeway standard, complete with on and off ramps.
More Information
For more information, visit the Louisiana 1 Coalition home page. This site has a vast wealth of information on the proposed corridor improvements, impact of this region on the nation's energy supply, and images from prior floods.
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