BATON ROUGE – Louisiana will get $150 million toward a new Interstate 10 bridge in Lake Charles.

"The I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, a key bridge on one of our main priority routes, has exceeded its useful life, which is why this funding is critical," Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a prepared statement. "It will greatly benefit the state and region by providing lasting economic benefits, allowing for an increase in capacity and a vastly improved structure."

The money will come from the federal Mega Grant Program, which supports large projects that will have a regional impact.

The existing bridge is 70 years old and is a key route between Louisiana and Texas. The overall project to replace the bridge and modify interchanges is expected to cost $1.5 billion.

State officials hope to select a developer by the end of 2023. Construction should begin in early 2025. Design and construction should take five to seven years.