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Revenue from Louisiana’s gasoline tax is insufficient to meet the state’s road and bridge needs, Legislative Auditor Michael Waguespack said in a report issued Sept. 6.

Louisiana’s trucking industry is pushing for a state moratorium on new highway billboards, in part because truckers are angry about trial attorney road signs that demean truckers over injury claims.

Despite high-profile projects in Baton Rouge and elsewhere, Louisiana’s $14 billion backlog of road and bridge needs will rise next year because the state lacks the needed resources, state Transportation Secretary Shawn Wilson said Nov. 15.

A bid to ease Baton Rouge traffic problems by requiring big trucks to stay in the right lane during evening rush hour died April 25.

Seven months after their push for a hike in the state gas tax died, road and bridge advocates are scrambling to see what, if any, other options are available for traffic relief.

While Louisiana road and bridge needs poured in to a key legislative committee Oct. 12, prospects for any sweeping changes are bleak.

The sponsor of a failed bill to raise Louisiana’s gas tax said July 31 the state should consider other options to improve roads and bridges, including the already-stressed general fund.

The failure of efforts to boost state aid for roads and bridges means key projects statewide will be slowed, Louisiana transportation chief Shawn Wilson said.

The death of the push to raise Louisiana's gasoline tax not only ended the issue for 2017.

Despite charges that it will spawn politically driven road and bridge projects, the Louisiana House gave final approval to a bill aimed at improving voter confidence in transportation spending.