Public Input
The project has now entered the environmental evaluation process. The previous Enhanced Planning Investigation (EPI) established 32 original alternatives to the project. These were narrowed to 20 and further narrowed to 10 feasible alternatives before settling on three potential final alternatives. These three final Alternatives are being evaluated under an Environmental Assessment to identify a single Preferred Alternative. This decision is anticipated to be announced during mid-to-late 2026. Public input is being received throughout the process, and expressly through several public events described below.
2025 and 2026 Public Meetings
The project continues to receive, review and document public comments. General comments may be submitted electronically anytime by sending your message to the email address info@mrbsouth.com. This official project website also receives typed comments using the form on the “contact” page.
Community Briefings: December 2025
On December 9 and 10, 2025 a pair of Community Briefings were offered at public venues in St. Gabriel and Plaquemine respectively. The first event in the St. Gabriel Community Center had 147 attendees, plus state agency and project team representatives. The second event held in the City of Plaquemine Community Center had 62 guests along with DOTD and project team representatives.
https://www.mrbsouth.com/december-2025-community-briefings
Public Meetings: 1st Quarter 2026
Technical study and design refinements are continuing during the EA process. Summaries of this new information for all three final Alternatives will be presented during a pair of public meetings to be conducted during the first quarter of 2026 – anticipated after the Mardi Gras holidays. Public announcements and notifications will be released in advance
of these meetings. Input received during these public meetings will be evaluated during the selection of one Preferred Alternative approved by DOTD.
Public Hearings: Second half of 2026
Following review of the Draft EA document by FHWA, a pair of public hearings will be scheduled and notifications given to offer additional opportunities for public review and comment. It is anticipated that these hearings will occur during late summer of 2026.
Enhanced Planning Investigation (2022)
During the Enhanced Planning Investigation phase of this project, the MRB South team conducted 25 in-person or virtual meetings with project stakeholders between February 2021 and May 2022, to provide interested parties with project updates and to obtain and document feedback. These stakeholders included public sector and local/state/federal agency representatives as well as private sector stakeholders, including industry groups, navigation interests and major landowners.
The MRB South team was able to utilize feedback from initial investigation and input to reduce the original number of 32 potential river crossing alternatives down to 10 options, which were then shared with the public at a series of public meetings during the Spring of 2022. These six public meetings were offered within the four parishes which are a part of the project's 62-mile river corridor study area. Input opportunities were also available through online surveys during this period. Materials from the Spring 2022 public meetings which were attended by nearly 1,200 area residents can be viewed here. The Team also provided quarterly updates to the Capital Area Road and Bridge District (CARB-D) which are posted on the "Updates" page of this site.
