Students who live around the state know just how rocky the roads are, but improvements are on the way. The past few years have brought about repairs and the building of new roads and bridges throughout Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the Louisiana Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development Program are leading the projects. One of these projects will give Louisiana national attention. “The John James Audubon bridge, a 2.44 mile, four-lane elevated structure, is proposed to be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America,” said Dana Newsome, deputy director of communications for Louisiana TIMED Program. Newsome said the bridge, replacing an existing ferry between the communities of New Roads and St. Francisville, will be a new Mississippi River crossing between Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana parishes in south central Louisiana. Another major project, waiting for funds to begin construction, is the extension of Interstate 49 south from Lafayette to the Westbank of New Orleans. Richard Savoie, deputy chief engineer for LADOTD, said the project is a multi-state program that will have Interstate 49 run all the way from New Orleans to Canada. “The project will give us a little more mobility and connect to other interstates in the region such as I-35 and I-29,” Savoie said. Savoie said even though LADOTD has done environmental studies to decide where the interstate will run, there is currently no funding to begin construction or even produce designs for the project. Dustin Annison, public information officer for the LADOTD, said these projects, especially the Audubon Bridge and Huey P. Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish, will allow Louisiana residents and traffic to get to their destinations quicker and safer. “All of the projects are going to help the economic development in their prospective areas,” Annison said. Meghan Legaux, LA TIMED projects spokesperson, said fixing the Huey P. Long bridge will make it easier for trucks too large for the now-narrow bridge and for regular motorists who do not cross it because they are afraid. “Safety is an issue because the road part of the bridge is only 18 feet wide with no shoulders,” Legaux said. “The bridge is part of U.S. Highway 90, and it will be part of the future I-49 corridor, which, once done, will be huge for businesses, motorists and locals.” Gabe Baldo, architecture sophomore, said driving on the Huey P. Long Bridge is terrible for motorists. “When you have a train passing on one side and a big truck on your other side, it’s really scary,” Baldo said. Will Monson, graphic design senior, said the road improvements throughout the state will help increase the overall status of the state. “All of the improvements taking place won’t make us the laughing stock of the nation,” Monson said.
—-Contact Louis Pelletteri III at [email protected]