Roads

June 14, 2019

This is the most recent highway update I received from DOTD for Senate District 18…

 

Project Description – LA 42 – Widening and Improvements

Contract Time – 850 Calendar Days

Contractor – Barber Brothers Contracting Co., LLC

Project Start Date – November 24, 2017 – Anticipated Completion Date – Nov. 8, 2020

Project Cost – $27,482,012.38

% 59.6 complete                                                                  % Time elapsed – 50.64

 

Current Work: Turn lane to remain closed until work is completed in this area (intersection of LA 73\LA 42 thru to Airline).  Eastbound right turn lane onto LA 73 and Airline left turn lane southbound onto LA 42 will remain closed until all work on LA 42 between LA 73 and US 61 has been completed.    Crews continue to cut soil cement in widening sections along LA 42 in both directions from Ronald Rd. to N. Lake.  The contractor plans to have all subgrade and base completed from Ronald Rd. to N. Lake on both sides in the weeks to come. The contractor still has to work on subgrade and base from Chenier Dr. to LA 73.  Crews will continue to lay subsurface drainage yard drains all along the corridor, weather permitting. Curbing work and forming of concrete drives will continue for weeks to come.

 

 

 

Project Description – LA 431 at LA 934 – Intersection Improvement (Gold Place)

Contract Time – 60 Working Days

Contractor – LA Contracting Enterprises, LLC

Project Start Date – January 2, 2018 –       Anticipated Completion Date – July 1, 2019

Project Cost – $1,517,844.72

% Complete – 74.06                                                                % Time elapsed – 85

 

Current Work: Crews completed working on subsurface drainage along LA 431.  Dirt work is 100% complete.  Contractor has completed the Class II Base 100%.  Asphalt base and binder paving is complete on widened portions of LA 431.  Traffic signal supports have been poured

 

 

Project Description – LA 44 Turn Lanes at 5 intersections

Contract Time – 120 Working Days

Contractor – KCR Contractors, LLC

Project Start Date – July 23, 2018                      Anticipated Completion Date – September 13, 2019

Project Cost – $3,501,304.95

% Complete – 30.9                                                               % Time elapsed – 23.33

 

Current Work: LA 44/ LA 933 awaiting partial acceptance.  LA 44/Causey Rd awaiting partial acceptance.  LA 44/LA 935, LA 44/LA 621, and LA 44/LA 931 are all in utility delay.

 

 

Project Description – LA 3038 Cornerview – Rehab and Turn Lane

Contract Time – 75 Working Days

Contractor – R.J. Daigle & Sons Contractors

Project Start Date – September 27, 2018  Anticipated Completion Date – August 30, 2019

Project Cost – $2,118,387.76

% Complete: 18.46                                                      % Time elapsed: 29.33

 

Current Work: There will be a road closure on Cornerview between S. Irma Blvd. and N. Edenborn Ave. with a detour.  The detour will send motorists up N. Edenborn Ave. to E. Weber St. and back down N. Irma Ave. to access Cornerview when traveling West on Cornerview, from Airline Hwy to LA 44.  This road closure will take place Saturday June 22th starting at 7:00 am until Sunday June 23th at 5:00 pm.  Closure will be at a spot location to install a new subsurface cross drain. Crews continue working on subsurface drainage, weather permitting.

 

 

Project Description – LA 22 and LA 70 Geometric Improvement

Contract Time – 200 Working Days

Contractor – Barriere Construction Co.

Project Start Date – August 18, 2018        Anticipated Completion Date – December 5, 2019

Project Cost – $5,633,333.69

% Complete: 2.65                                                        % Time elapsed: 0

 

Current Work: Contractor scheduled to begin work June 17, 2019.

 

Project Description – LA 30 Turn Lanes at S. Purpera and S. Hodgeson

Contract Time – 50 Working Days

Contractor – Command Construction Industries

Project Start Date – September 18, 2018  Anticipated Completion Date – June 20, 2019

Project Cost – $794,004.34

% Complete – 96.38                                                             % Time Elapsed – 91.38

 

Current Work: Final walk through scheduled June 18, 2019.

 

 

Project Description – LA 22 Rehabilitation

Contract Time – 100 Working Days

Contractor R. J. Daigle & Sons Contractors

Project Start Date – December 5, 2018     Anticipated Completion Date – July 8, 2019

Project Cost – $2,540,448.16

% Complete – 94.5                                                                % Time Elapsed – 79

 

Current Work:

All striping has been completed on project.  Mailboxes and hydro-seeding.  Installation of signs are schedule for June 13, 2019.

 

 

October 15, 2018

PRESS RELEASE FROM DOTD:

Sunshine bridge damage extensive, remains closed

BATON ROUGE — Inspections of the Sunshine Bridge/LA 70 concluded that key load-carrying components of the bridge suffered significant damage after a crane on a barge collided with the southwest portion of the bridge on Friday. Because of the extensive damage, permanent repairs to the bridge are necessary prior to reopening it  to vehicular traffic.  The Department continues to find damage to the structure.
Bridge engineers are in the process of finalizing a design to execute the repairs. Once that design is finalized, successfully modeled and we have a better idea of what resources are needed and available, an estimated project timeline will be released.  However, the timeline is believed to be months rather than days.
“The damage is to key members of the bridge and has rendered it unsafe to traffic,” said DOTD Secretary Shawn D. Wilson, Ph.D. “While we have identified a contractor and are moving forward with expediting this work, it is important to know there is not an easy fix for this kind of damage. There is no temporary fix that will allow us to safely open the bridge.”
The Department will continue to work with local law enforcement and state police to mitigate and refine traffic patterns and detour routes.
During the duration of the Sunshine Bridge closure, additional ferry service hours will be:
Monday thru Friday, a second boat will run from 5:15 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. to 7p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, the first boat will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: the second boat will run from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
When two ferries are in operation, they are scheduled to depart every 15 minutes. When there is only one, it leaves every 30 minutes (Departs Plaquemine at :00 and :30. Sunshine at :15 and :45).
The possibility of reopening the White Castle ferry has been ruled out for several reasons.
There is a lengthy process to implement a new ferry route. River traffic falls under the authority of the US Coast Guard and any additional traffic would require their approval. Additionally, since we no longer have property access to the former landings at White Castle, we would be required to obtain access from landowners and permission to build on the levee by the Corps of Engineers.
Motorists are also encouraged to use the Veterans Memorial Bridge as an alternate river crossing.
Call 511 or visit www.511la.org for additional travel information. Out-of-state travelers may call 1-800-ROAD-511 (1-800-762-3511). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website at www.dotd.la.gov, by selecting MYDOTD, or by visiting the DOTD Facebook and Twitter pages.

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May 4, 2018

Maurepas, Ama and Union Diversions

Here is the latest information on the Maurepas, Ama, and Union diversion projects from the Department of Transportation and Development.

PO-0029_Project Overview_20180326

April 25, 2017

History of Revenue Collection from the Gasoline Tax

The state has had a tax on gasoline and other fuels for several decades, a portion of which is dedicated to spending on roads and infrastructure construction and maintenance. The gasoline tax, as it is often called, has been adjusted a few times in its history as revenue collections have failed to keep pace with inflation (in construction costs, for example) and in revenue needs for infrastructure. The last increase in the gasoline tax took effect in the 1990-1991 Fiscal Year, when the gasoline tax was raised to 20 cents per gallon, where it remains today.

In the 2017 Regular Fiscal Session, the Legislature will consider raising the gas tax.

Click Here to See a History of Gas Tax Revenues Over Time.

March 23, 2017

The Department of Transportation and Development, after studying traffic patterns, accidents, and congestion, has determined that a traffic signal is warranted at the intersection of La. 74 and La. 928 (Bluff Road). Although no firm date was given in the letter I have posted here and made available for your viewing, DOTD intends to install a traffic signal “as soon as possible.”

DOTD Letter Regarding La. 74 and Bluff Road Intersection

 

September 29, 2016

I have been provided a document with highly detailed information on upcoming road projects and improvements. The document contains detailed and helpful maps that make it easier to understand exactly where improvements will be made and what those improvements will be. I hope you find them informative.

August 2016 Detailed Project Program

 

 

September 16, 2016

The linked spreadsheet contains the most current list/update of construction and improvement projects in our DOTD district, which includes the tri-parish area comprising Senate District 18.

DOTD August Construction Update

 

August 10, 2016

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has submitted its Highway Program for the 2016-2017 Fiscal Year, which details DOTD’s proposal for projects that are scheduled for construction during the fiscal year. The list is sorted by parish and gives some limited details about the nature of the project. Included in the link below is general information from the Highway Program Proposal and the list of projects for Ascension, Livingston, and St. James parishes.

District 18 Highway Program for 2016-2017 Fiscal Year

 

 

The linked list of projects below (“Senate District Road Projects) includes all projects that have been approved for the parishes of Ascension, Livingston, and St. James. Priority 1 projects are the highest priority with cash and line of credit availability for the project. Priority 2 projects are similarly high in priority and often include line of credit funding for projects that also have Priority 1 funding. Priority 5 projects have been approved but are not in line for immediate funding; they have been judged worthy of merit and funding but will take longer to move into Priority 1 status. This list is current from the Capital Outlay Legislation approved by the Louisiana Legislature and the Governor in the 2016 sessions.

Senate District Road Projects

Additionally, the link below is a map of current and immediate state highway projects within DOTD District 61, which includes Senate District 18.

Highway Program Priority Map