A sea of orange cones, lines of traffic and sporadic detours are just some of the things that can be found at the intersection of Highland Road and Staring Lane as construction continues to extend Staring to Burbank Drive.
The $15.9 million extension, a project of the Green Light Plan, began road work in February 2009, and according to nearby residents, the construction has since stirred up more than just dirt.
Rachael Barnes, Highland Creek resident and biological sciences senior, said she has to drive through the tiresome construction every day to get to class.
“Getting to my house and leaving has been very difficult,” Barnes said. “And I’m already late for school every morning.”
Barnes said her street has been narrowed to a gravel, one-lane path and has a very low speed limit.
And Kimberlie Wessman, Green Light Plan spokeswoman, said this is just one of many complaints.
“There have been several complaints filed regarding curbing along Highland Road, inquiries regarding buffer walls and fencing, installation of sidewalks and effects of the new roadway on crime in the surrounding neighborhoods,” Wessman said.
Barnes said a flier circulated through the neighborhood earlier this semester warning residents to be “on guard at all times.”
The notice read: “Attention Highland Creek neighborhood! We have had seven break-ins and burglaries in seven days!”
Barnes said she believes the recent crime is linked to the chaos of the construction. She said before the construction, the path to Burbank was overgrown and unnoticeable.
“The neighborhood was more quaint before this happened,” she said. “Before the break-ins and before the cops, it was a nice place to live.”
The Baton Rouge Police Department was unavailable for comment before print deadline, but according to “Highland Creek News,” no further burglaries have been reported in Highland Creek since Sept. 10.
The monthly newsletter praised the police department for their cooperation and information.
Wessman said the project’s completion is currently set for Nov. 24, but officials are planning a contract extension.
“Over the course of the project, there have been a number of non-working days due to weather,” Wessman said. “The City-Parish is currently reconciling non-working days and will be finalizing a change order to extend the contract time in the near future.”
According to the Green Light Plan website, the construction is 65 percent complete.
The next step in the process is to install sound walls, which will reduce traffic noise outside the neighborhood, along the side of the new road through the Highland Creek subdivision.
When completed, Wessman said the extension will benefit the city of Baton Rouge by reducing the traffic burden on Highland Road and Gardere Lane.
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Contact Sydni Dunn at [email protected]