Scalise Asks Corps of Engineers for Answers on Hwy 3241

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Washington, DC -- Congressman Steve Scalise today sent a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers requesting a status update of the environmental assessment on the proposed Highway 3241. The highway would run from Interstate 12 to Bush.

The proposed Highway 3241 has been in the planning stages for 20 years. The Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development (TIMED) program has given the project priority status. The state and local officials are awaiting the Corps of Engineers’ environmental review to proceed. Scalise requests an update on the current status of the pending environmental assessment by August 26, 2008.

“The ‘I-12 to Bush Corridor’ will provide a critical emergency evacuation route, and is extremely important to the residents of Southeast Louisiana,” Scalise said.

The following is the text of the letter from Congressman Scalise to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Colonel Al Lee
U.S. Army Engineer District, New Orleans
P.O. Box 60267
New Orleans, LA 70160-0267
Via Fax: 504-862-1259

Dear Colonel Lee,

I am writing to request the status of the environmental assessment on the proposed “I-12 to Bush Corridor” in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes in Louisiana. Planning for this project, also known as the proposed Highway 3241 route, has been underway for over 20 years.  It is imperative that this project not be delayed any further.

As you know, the proposed route has received priority status under the State of Louisiana’s Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development (TIMED) program. State and local officials are currently awaiting the Corps of Engineers’ environmental review to proceed with plans for development.

First and foremost, the “I-12 to Bush Corridor” will provide a critical emergency evacuation route to residents in Southeast Louisiana. The Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain has seen exponential growth in the past 20 years, and it is imperative that easily-accessible evacuation routes are available to area residents during times of emergency. This project, which has already secured funding, will also provide significant economic development benefits to Washington and St. Tammany Parishes.

The “I-12 to Bush Corridor” is extremely important to the residents of Southeast Louisiana and has languished in bureaucratic limbo for far too long. I respectfully request that your office provide me with an update on the current status of the pending environmental assessment by August 26, 2008. If my office can be of assistance in expediting this process, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you again for your prompt attention.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
        
Steve Scalise
Member of Congress

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309