PHONE CALL UPDATE WITH STATE REP— 

HERE’S WHAT I CAN SHARE FROM TODAY

Earlier today, I spoke with State Rep. Peter Egan regarding the Highway 36 closure. This was a productive conversation, and I want to share the key takeaways many of you have been waiting on.

First and foremost, Rep. Egan made it clear that Highway 36 is viewed as a major artery for our area. He understands how critical this roadway is for daily commuters, school routes, emergency access, and local businesses — and that the disruption this causes is real.

One important piece of context is who is handling this project. The work is being led by a new, mission-driven state infrastructure office that was created to tackle long-standing infrastructure problems across Louisiana. This department was given funding up front and a very direct mandate:

move faster, reduce red tape, and deliver results for taxpayers.

That mission-first approach explains why this project appeared to move very quickly compared to how things were handled in the past. While that speed has understandably caused confusion, the intent is to fix problems efficiently instead of letting them drag on for years.

Rep. Egan also acknowledged that communication has not been as detailed as anyone would like, and he is actively pushing for clearer, more specific information so accurate updates can be shared with the public. He confirmed that the five-month timeline is a worst-case scenario, and if conditions cooperate, the work could be completed sooner.

He emphasized that keeping the public informed early helps reduce congestion, backups, and unnecessary frustration — and expressed appreciation for efforts to make sure residents know what to expect as this project moves forward.

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SECOND NOTE — HWY 90 BRIDGE

We also discussed the Highway 90 bridge. While this is a separate issue, it was addressed during the call. At this time, the state is actively pushing for federal funding to fully replace the bridge, as the scope of that project exceeds what state resources alone can reasonably cover. I’ll leave it there for now and share more only when verified details are available.

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As always, I want to be clear: I’m not here to speculate, create panic, or push unverified timelines. My goal is — and always has been — to share confirmed information so our community can plan accordingly.

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