Various lanes at Perkins Road and Stanford Avenue/Acadian Thruway will be temporarily closed this weekend as work expanding the intersection continues.The lane closures will begin Saturday at 7 a.m. as workers begin installing new asphalt on parts of the roadway and are expected to last until Sunday at 7 p.m., weather permitting, according to a news release.”The project involves the installation of six new turning lanes to the intersection,” said John Snow, spokesperson for the Green Light Plan. “It will expand the intersection and help open up the intersection that is a major source of congestion.”
Ground was broken on this project in November, and the target completion date is mid-August, weather permitting, Snow said.
Though various lanes will be closed throughout the time period, the roadway will not be fully closed at any time.
“There will be several lanes that are closed as the crew moves from lane to lane, allowing them to install and lay down new asphalt on each leg on the intersection,” Snow said. “It will still allow for thru traffic.”
Some congestion is expected at the roadway because of the limited access available to motorists.”Motorists should exercise extreme caution when traveling within the vicinity of the intersection,” the release said. “Travel times may be affected throughout the temporary closure period, and motorists are encouraged to factor in and prepare for potential delays at the intersection.”Project organizers are anticipating small traffic delays small, Snow said.
“We’re hoping the congestion is minimal,” he said. “It is just a two-day closure, but we understand there will be some congestion.”
The Perkins at Stanford/Acadian intersection improvement project has a present day cost of $8.6 million, according to the Green Light Plan website.The intersection’s expansion is part of the city’s Green Light Plan, a 42-project endeavor to improve Baton Rouge roadways.”The overall goal of the Green Light Plan is to open up roadways, open up intersections and open up areas where there’s been lots of congestion and traffic,” Snow said. “It’s going to get people moving and get our city moving in those key areas.”
–Contact Ryan Buxton at [email protected]