Roads

November 2, 2019

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

Project Description-Manchac/ Airline Bridge

DOTD is replacing the two Airline Highway bridges over Bayou Manchac at the Ascension Parish line. The two new replacement bridges will be widen to  3 lanes in each direction to accommodate for future widening of Airline Highway.  DOTD is constructing a temporary bridge to be used during the construction.

Project Description- Highland and I10

LA 42 (ASCENSION PARISH) ROAD CLOSURE

Wednesday, September 04, 2019 12:56 PM
By CHRISTINA OLIVER

LA 42-Highland Rd. (ASCENSION PARISH) – A road closure will take place on LA 42 (Highland Rd.) from the I-10/Highland Rd. Eastbound Off/Westbound ON Ramp Interchange to the I-10/Highland Rd. Eastbound On Ramp/Westbound Off Ramp Interchange.

The closure is set to occur daily from 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM beginning on Monday, September 16, 2019 until Saturday, September 28, 2019.

This closure is necessary to install steel girders for Highland Road Overpass.

Commuters may travel I-10 WB to Siegen Lane Interchange and I-10 EB to LA 73 Interchange as detour routes.

DOTD appreciates your patience and reminds you to please drive with caution through the construction site and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

– James Construction Group, LLC

 

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

% 68.20 complete                                                                  % Time elapsed – 64.69

 

Current Work:

Contractor continues to work on sidewalks and driveways from Little Prairie Church to Rouse’s.  Crews continue to backfill curbs and sidewalks for weeks to come. The contractor began laying the 5” base course from McCrory Rd. to North Lake Dr. and will continue in the weeks to come.  Motorist should expect a traffic shift just past Autumn View to LA 44 for construction on the outer westbound lane. The contractor has begun the removal of existing road in preparation for construction of new road.

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.

 

 

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 – March 4, 2020

Project Cost – $3,501,304.95

% Complete – 36.03                                                               % Time elapsed – 30.83

 

Current Work:

LA 44/ LA 933 awaiting partial acceptance.  LA 44/Causey Rd awaiting partial acceptance.  LA 44/LA 935, LA 44/LA 621, signal head installation has begun at both of these locations.  LA 44/LA 931 all utilities have been cleared and contractor has begun working on subsurface drainage.  The contractor has completed two full depth patches following the installation of the cross drains.  LA 44 widening has begun; contractor continues placing class II base course in preparation for asphalt.

 

 

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 – November 30, 2019

Project Cost – $2,118,387.76

% Complete: 69.89                                                      % Time elapsed: 94.25

 

Current Work:

Permanent striping is to be completed upon completion of paved gutter drains and sidewalks. Left for completion are the following: Hydro-seeding, permanent striping, retaining wall near sidewalk, and permanent signs.

 

 

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 – May 29, 2020

Project Cost – $5,633,333.69

% Complete: 34.28                                                        % Time elapsed: 27

Current Work:

All black base has been installed on both side along LA 22.  Crews continue to work in concrete drives.  2 week look ahead; Contractor anticipates beginning curb work upon completion of concrete drives.  Once the curb work has been completed along LA 22 the first lift of binder course will be installed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Description:  LA 429: Improvements at LA 431       

Contract Time: 60 Working Days      Contractor:  KCR Contractors

Project Start Date:  June 5, 2019                                      Anticipated Completion Date:  December 1, 2019

Project Cost:  $568,847.26

% Complete: 83.61                                                      % Time elapsed: 81.67

Current work:

Signal Section heads have been configured for the new roadway layout. Currently temporary striping is installed with the exception of stop bars.  Once stop bars have been laid out the new turn lanes will be opened up. Dirt work needs to be done along shoulders before permanent striping is complete.

 

 

 

 

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