WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - State transportation officials are trying to negotiate a $174 million federal loan to ease problems in paying for a toll bridge in south Louisiana.

The $371 million bridge, which opened in 2009, is on Louisiana Highway 1 in Leeville and crosses Bayou Lafourche, just west of Grand Isle.

It is on a key corridor use to haul crude oil and natural gas supplies and is heavily used by fishermen.

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera said in a report earlier this month that the toll bridge is failing to generate enough revenue to pay for the structure.