Regency to Spend $125 million on Pipeline Expansion

Regency Gas Services LLC said it will spend $125 million on capital projects that will extend and expand existing intrastate gas pipelines in north Louisiana.

The Dallas-based midstream gas gathering and transmission company said the projects will add a 24-in. pipeline along 40 mi. of existing intrastate pipeline.

Construction has already begun on the Haughton to Sibley portion of the project, which should be completed this month.

Regency will also extend the pipeline by 80 mi. to markets within the state and
interstate pipelines in Louisiana, including Columbia Gulf's pipeline near Winnsboro.

Regency expects to complete the projects before the end of the year.

Completion of the projects will aid in transmitting natural gas from basins in north Louisiana to markets within the state, as well as markets in the Northeast, Southeast and upper Midwest, Regency said.

Project to Rescue Port Highway gets Boost
from Bush Administration

Louisiana's plans to rescue the highway to Port Fourchon from floods got a boost recently from U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta when he announced final approval of a $66 million federal loan for the project during a visit to the port.

The loan program will help the state build a 17-mi. elevated toll highway, known as LA 1, connecting the port to land less susceptible to flooding, Mineta said.

"It is clear that a two-lane road that floods at the sight of rain is no longer adequate to service this vital gulf port," Mineta said.

The loan will help with Phase 1 of the project, which includes construction of a two-lane elevated highway south of Leeville to Port Fourchon; construction of a fixed-span, high-level, two-lane bridge over Bayou Lafourche at Leeville; and the interchanges and connector roads immediately north and south of Leeville.

The LA 1 project is expected to cost $254 million when completed, using a mix of federal, state and private funds. All toll revenue will be used to repay project debt.