Construction is about to begin on a new roadway in Ascension Parish that officials say will help unlock billions of dollars in industrial development.
The new two-lane roadway, called the Energy Transition Parkway, will provide direct access to the burgeoning RiverPlex MegaPark as well as to the surrounding industrial corridor. A number of major projects have been announced for the 17,000-acre industrial site in recent months, including Hyundai’s $5.8 billion steel plant, CF Industries’ $4 billion low-carbon ammonia facility and Linde’s $400 million air separation unit.
The roadway will be constructed off La. 405, about 2.7 miles north of La. 1. The RiverPlex MegaPark sits on the west bank of the Mississippi River.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project is scheduled for Oct. 16. Pamela Matassa, deputy chief administrative officer and communications director for Ascension Parish, tells Daily Report that construction is expected to take about 270 days to complete.
The project’s current bid price is $7.325 million, Matassa says, and it’ll be funded through capital outlay via Louisiana Economic Development.
Officials are describing the Energy Transition Parkway as a “critical connector” to the RiverPlex MegaPark, envisioned as a hub for industrial investment. They say the roadway will not only accommodate the flow of goods and workers but also serve as a signal to prospective investors that Ascension Parish is open for business.
To support the growth of the RiverPlex MegaPark, Ascension Parish is taking steps toward buying residents who live on the industrial site out of their properties. Read more about that move here.
