From the Lafayette, La. Chamber of Commerce. Some of the information concerning this was in an INSERT in a Lafayetter paper rather than as a news article. We find this extremely unusual. The article below does not speak of the roadway going up to Canada as the "insert" did. wonder why they left that bit of news off of their website?

Chamber News Room


http://www.lafchamber.org/Newsletter/Ne ... sp?p1=1901
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Chamber Travels to Arkansas for Tri-State Coalition - 10/16/2006 -

Chamber President and CEO Rob Guidry will join other members of the I-49 International Tri-State Coalition for a key meeting in Rogers, Arkansas on Tuesday, October 17.

The meeting will focus on innovative financing for the massive I-49 project which, when completed, will traverse the country from Canada to New Orleans. Representatives from national and international construction firms will present concepts for public-private partnerships.

“With the environment of federal and state funding eroding, there is an increasing need to seek innovative methods of paying for infrastructure,” said Guidry. “I look forward to being exposed to ideas that are being implemented across the world to build super highways.”

One such concept is to have a private company build the highway, have users in the form of tolls pay for the project, then turn the highway over to the state. History has shown that private companies complete such projects expeditiously and thus save hundreds of millions of dollars.

Large banks will also be in attendance at the meeting. Banks, such as Citibank, have experience in backing mega construction programs. Additionally, members of the congressional delegations from the three states, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri, will participate in the session.

In the most recent federal highway funding bill, Louisiana received $250 million for I-49. The Shreveport area is spending $200 million to connect with Arkansas, while I-49 South was allocated $50 million.

Joining Guidry on the coalition board of directors are Carl Bauer and Rusty Cloutier. The three have advocated for the project on behalf of the Chamber for more than 15 years. For more information about the I-49 Coalition, please contact Rob Guidry at 233-2705.

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