The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana will get over $1.3 million in federal funding to address infrastructure and road safety upgrades to improve access to the Coushatta Tribe’s reservation located just north of Elton.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy on Thursday announced the allocation of funding for the CC Bel Road improvement project as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“We are very happy to be receiving these funds,” Coushatta Tribal Council Vice-Chair Crystal Williams said. “It’s a long time coming. It is going to be great for the community to drive safely, so we are pretty thankful for that opportunity.”

CC Bel Road is a major roadway running through the middle of the Coushatta Reservation. It leads to many residences and businesses, including the tribal administration offices and police and fire departments.

The funding will allow for the realignment of CC Bel Road at the S-curve to address safety and roadway concerns as a result of narrow road width, steep drainage ditches, inadequate signing and no striping.

“By addressing road safety, we are creating a better environment for families who rely on them,” Cassidy said in a press release. “Because I had a seat at the table, the infrastructure law will give Louisiana tribal communities the tools needed to keep people safe on the road.”

Last year, Cassidy announced $11.4 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act had been secured for the engineering design, environmental compliance, right-of-way and construction to upgrade and extend nearly 2.5 miles of CC Bel Road.