The intersection of Highland Road and Staring Lane will be closed a few days longer than expected due to work delays caused by rain.The intersection has been closed since June 1 for the installation of sewer drains as part of the work to extend Staring Lane to Burbank Drive. It is scheduled to reopen Friday.The intersection was originally slated to reopen today, but about three days of work were lost because of rain, said Jose Alvarez, chief construction engineer for East Baton Rouge Parish.”We were excavating very deep to install a 64-inch pipe going across Highland Road,” Alvarez said. “It was extremely dangerous with water pouring into that hole, about 15- to 18-feet deep.”Weather forecasts for this week predict possible isolated thunderstorms. Alvarez said the work could potentially be extended again if there is more bad weather, but the intersection is still expected to reopen Friday.The construction is part of the Green Light Plan, a project to improve East Baton Rouge Parish roadways.The closure has created mild traffic congestion since it began, but motorists have effectively utilized detours, said John Snow, spokesperson for the Green Light Plan.”People have planned ahead and used key roadways to avoid the intersection,” Snow said.
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Highland intersection closure extended
June 13, 2010