The Capital Area Road and Bridge District’s planned project for Interstate 49 expansion and a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge remains on track despite shifts in scheduling, funding and new federal environmental requirements. Project Manager Christina Botros Brignac confirmed that the National Environmental Policy Act process is fully funded. The Legislature recently diverted vehicle sales tax revenue, though current funding sits at just over $390 million and is secure, leaving the lawmakers ample time to find new ways to fund the projects. Opposition to the project stems largely from environmental and historical concerns. Critics argue that the proposed pathway, known as E11-IV, could harm local ecosystems, historic sites, and wildlife habitats. The proposed route begins at Louisiana Highway 30 in East Iberville, just south of the University Club subdivision. It runs upriver, skirting the Georgia Gulf and Shintech facilities on the west bank, before connecting to Louisiana Highway 1. Maryland-based Old Growth Forest Network, claimed in October 2023 that the project could harm Louisiana’s forestry. “The three proposed routes (marked in blue) for the new Mississippi River South Bridge. Route E-11-IV for Project MRB South GBR: LA 1 to LA 30 runs through the A.E. LeBlanc Forest property (marked in black) and would remove several centuries-old cypress trees. Construction would also permanently alter the thriving intact forest ecosystem,” Old Growth wrote in a news release. Lara Comb, A Plaquemines parish resident, expressed concerns about habitat destruction, noting the pathway bisects a 250-year-old settlement where her descendants still reside. “The 600 foot wide path would clear cut 150 acres of wooded land,” Comb said. “The wooded land is home to an old growth cypress forest state natural area and at least 12 species of greatest conservation need.” Comb said that the habitat is home to animals including the bald eagle, the alligator snapper, big brown bat, little blue heron, loggerhead shrike, osprey, Rose Yates spoonbill, swallowtail kite, white-breasted nuthatch, wood stork and the woodcock. “Should this site be within or adjacent to the final footprint of this project, irreversible harm would be caused to the ecological integrity of this at-risk wetland natural community and the species that utilize it,” the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries wrote in October of 2023. Opponents also raised issues about the transparency of the Planning and Environmental Linkage process.