Politics
Shreveport City Council Passes 2026 Infrastructure Ordinance Funding Road Projects and Workforce Training
The ordinance directs $52 million toward repairs on local highways and job programs at Shreveport technical colleges, with construction bids scheduled to open in September.
How we reported this
The Shreveport City Council approved the 2026 Infrastructure and Workforce Development Ordinance on July 7, directing city and matching federal funds to highway resurfacing and training programs run through the Shreveport campus of Louisiana Technical College. The measure covers segments of Interstate 20 within city limits and expands short-term certification courses in heavy equipment operation and utility maintenance.
City budget documents released last month show the ordinance draws from the capital improvements line item and a U.S. Department of Transportation grant awarded to the Caddo Parish area in 2025. Local officials say the timing aligns with the expiration of prior federal recovery funds that had supported similar work through 2025.
Effects on daily commutes and employment access
Residents who drive Interstate 20 between downtown Shreveport and the industrial parks near the Port of Caddo-Bossier will see lane closures begin in phases after Labor Day. The ordinance requires contractors to complete the main resurfacing work by June 2027, with detours routed through existing frontage roads. City planners project that the work will reduce the average daily delay time on that corridor by 12 minutes once finished.
The training component adds 180 slots each semester in equipment operator and pipeline safety courses at the technical college. Participants must be Shreveport residents at the time of enrollment, and the city will cover tuition for those who complete the 12-week program and pass the certification exam. Local workforce data from the Louisiana Workforce Commission lists 340 unfilled positions in construction trades within a 30-mile radius of Shreveport as of April 2026.
Budget figures and next steps
The ordinance itself lists $34 million for pavement and drainage upgrades, $12 million for the training expansion, and $6 million for utility relocation tied to the road work. These amounts appear in the adopted capital budget under project codes INF-26-04 and WFD-26-11.
Bidding documents for the first three resurfacing contracts will be posted on the city procurement portal on September 2. The council’s public works committee will review bids at its October meeting, with contract awards expected before the end of the year. City staff will provide monthly progress reports at council meetings beginning in November.