Louisiana Lawmakers Push to Honor Trump with New Mississippi River Bridge

Legislators in Louisiana are advancing a proposal that could see a new bridge spanning the Mississippi River named after former President Donald Trump. The House Transportation Committee approved House Bill 221 with a decisive 12-2 vote on Tuesday, setting the stage for a full House vote.

If the bill passes, the bridge will be officially designated as the "President Donald J. Trump Expressway." Republican State Representative Michael Echols expressed his hope during a committee hearing on March 10 that this naming could attract Trump's attention and potentially secure federal funding for the project.

“Whether you like him or not, you put his name on something, you get his attention. He likes to build big things. This is a big bridge,” Echols stated, emphasizing the practical implications of the name. “This isn’t just symbolic. It’s a logical step in making sure that Louisiana gets the attention it deserves.”

Securing federal funding could alleviate the need for tolls once the bridge is completed, according to Echols. The exact location of the bridge remains uncertain, with three potential sites identified, all near areas experiencing significant industrial growth. The bridge is expected to connect Louisiana Highway 1 and Louisiana Highway 30 in proximity to Baton Rouge.

“This approach keeps a toll-free crossing, it encourages development, and it spreads cost across the economic expansion that this will generate,” Echols added. He noted that combining value-add financing with federal freight infrastructure programs could facilitate the project's realization.

Glenn Ledet, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, revealed that approximately $400 million has already been allocated to the bridge project, which is projected to cost around $3 billion. However, full funding has yet to be secured.

Local residents have expressed confusion regarding the proposed naming. Keith Giardina remarked, “Name it after some soldier or somebody that died in battle or something like that, you know? But to just do that, they’re just playing political games.”

Another resident, Bennie Mitchell, voiced skepticism about the timing: “It’s not a good time for the USA to name a bridge after him because he's not bridging anything for us anyway.”

The White House has been contacted for comment regarding this initiative. Should the name be approved, it would not be an isolated case; portions of Route 287 in Oklahoma are designated as President Donald J Trump Highway, alongside President Donald J Trump Avenue in Hialeah, Florida, and President Donald J Trump Boulevard in Palm Beach County.