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Louisiana

Started by Alex, January 20, 2009, 12:43:48 AM

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pctech

Just took a ride on recently completed I-12 from O Neal Lane to Range exit. Interesting indeed!
Just few observations.
Amite river bridge now one long causeway, (as it should have been originally) this should help with upstream flooding.
From Amite river to Range, east bound side is concrete pavement, westbound side is asphalt pavement.
It'll be interesting to see which holds up better.
Eastbound exit at Range is a "Caltrans" type double lane type exit. It's even labeled similar at the exit, however the approach warning sign to the does not show that it's a double lane exit.
Westbound entrance from Range has a 3 laned entrance/merging ramp controlled by a "staging" traffic signal. That should prove to be entertaining!


froggie

QuoteWestbound entrance from Range has a 3 laned entrance/merging ramp controlled by a "staging" traffic signal. That should prove to be entertaining!

Most other areas call that a ramp meter.  And it's probably because LaDOTD installed them on I-12 closer in.

mcdonaat

Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 09:35:56 AM
QuoteWestbound entrance from Range has a 3 laned entrance/merging ramp controlled by a "staging" traffic signal. That should prove to be entertaining!

Most other areas call that a ramp meter.  And it's probably because LaDOTD installed them on I-12 closer in.

In fact, I was metered a week ago getting onto I-12. Seemed dumb, because traffic was moving at about 5 MPH. But who knows... what the DOTD needs to do is install flashers on the interchanges near I-12 and I-10 warning drivers if an incident is causing delays. Maybe even have a digital readout showing the speed of the traffic on the routes, so drivers can gauge for themselves if they want to take the highway or not. It would work very well with Airline/I-12 and Essen/I-10, and even better about two miles before the 10/110 split going west/north, since a good bit of the people taking I-10 west can take I-110 north to the old bridge, then over on US 190 to Port Allen.

pctech

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 04:52:31 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 09:35:56 AM
QuoteWestbound entrance from Range has a 3 laned entrance/merging ramp controlled by a "staging" traffic signal. That should prove to be entertaining!

Most other areas call that a ramp meter.  And it's probably because LaDOTD installed them on I-12 closer in.

In fact, I was metered a week ago getting onto I-12. Seemed dumb, because traffic was moving at about 5 MPH. But who knows... what the DOTD needs to do is install flashers on the interchanges near I-12 and I-10 warning drivers if an incident is causing delays. Maybe even have a digital readout showing the speed of the traffic on the routes, so drivers can gauge for themselves if they want to take the highway or not. It would work very well with Airline/I-12 and Essen/I-10, and even better about two miles before the 10/110 split going west/north, since a good bit of the people taking I-10 west can take I-110 north to the old bridge, then over on US 190 to Port Allen.
Sounds too advanced for DOTD, they are still trying figure out traffic signal synchronization.

mcdonaat

Quote from: pctech on June 16, 2012, 05:21:52 PM
Sounds too advanced for DOTD, they are still trying figure out traffic signal synchronization.
Not really too advanced... lights will never truly be synchronized. Replace some of the major intersections with actual interchanges, like Siegen/10 as an extension of the Mall of LA setup to Pecue Lane, and you'll have traffic flowing smoothly. Maybe even direct traffic north to Airline, where Airline actually is elevated for that section, with traffic bound for Jeff Hwy would be on the ground.

Use the TIMED tax to go towards traffic warning systems, and you could even have the giant signs like are along I-10 that say things like "10E to Essen: 4 MILES, 7 MINUTES." Give me the funds, I can make it happen.

froggie

QuoteReplace some of the major intersections with actual interchanges,

Interchanges are expensive.  Even signal synchronization is more realistic (and less costly) than your interchange idea.

UptownRoadGeek

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 04:52:31 PM
Maybe even have a digital readout showing the speed of the traffic on the routes, so drivers can gauge for themselves if they want to take the highway or not. It would work very well with Airline/I-12 and Essen/I-10, and even better about two miles before the 10/110 split going west/north, since a good bit of the people taking I-10 west can take I-110 north to the old bridge, then over on US 190 to Port Allen.

They already have those, in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

mcdonaat

Quote from: UptownRoadGeek on June 16, 2012, 07:33:53 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 04:52:31 PM
Maybe even have a digital readout showing the speed of the traffic on the routes, so drivers can gauge for themselves if they want to take the highway or not. It would work very well with Airline/I-12 and Essen/I-10, and even better about two miles before the 10/110 split going west/north, since a good bit of the people taking I-10 west can take I-110 north to the old bridge, then over on US 190 to Port Allen.

They already have those, in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
I was referring to the ones already in place, but it would be nice to have them on major highways that commuters use that aren't the Interstates. I was thinking of maybe along Airline Highway before I-12, if anywhere at all.

froggie

Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

mcdonaat

Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.

pctech

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 11:50:51 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.
Couldn't agree more. Not only do most roads lead to the interstates, development has been encouraged along the interstates without needed supporting infrastructure. 

mcdonaat

Quote from: pctech on June 17, 2012, 04:49:47 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 11:50:51 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.
Couldn't agree more. Not only do most roads lead to the interstates, development has been encouraged along the interstates without needed supporting infrastructure. 
In my opinion, Burbank Drive needed to be a southern bypass of Baton Rouge. Instead of allowing development, build it as a six-lane controlled access freeway, connecting with Brusly and the Port of Baton Rouge. Have it tie into LA 1 with a major interchange, and become a four-lane surface street connecting with La 415. You can take the now-upgraded Burbank Expressway and spur it to meet I-10 between Highland and Gonzales. It sounds like a pretty good plan to me... Costly, but feasible. I'm sure that the L'auberge casino wouldn't mind easier access to their casino from the east and west.

Hot Rod Hootenanny

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 17, 2012, 06:58:20 PM
Quote from: pctech on June 17, 2012, 04:49:47 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 11:50:51 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.
Couldn't agree more. Not only do most roads lead to the interstates, development has been encouraged along the interstates without needed supporting infrastructure. 
In my opinion, Burbank Drive needed to be a southern bypass of Baton Rouge. Instead of allowing development, build it as a six-lane controlled access freeway, connecting with Brusly and the Port of Baton Rouge. Have it tie into LA 1 with a major interchange, and become a four-lane surface street connecting with La 415. You can take the now-upgraded Burbank Expressway and spur it to meet I-10 between Highland and Gonzales. It sounds like a pretty good plan to me... Costly, but feasible. I'm sure that the L'auberge casino wouldn't mind easier access to their casino from the east and west.

Burbank Dr. is the southern bypass for LSU, not Baton Rouge.
Please, don't sue Alex & Andy over what I wrote above

mcdonaat

Quote from: Hot Rod Hootenanny on June 18, 2012, 10:13:28 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 17, 2012, 06:58:20 PM
Quote from: pctech on June 17, 2012, 04:49:47 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 11:50:51 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.
Couldn't agree more. Not only do most roads lead to the interstates, development has been encouraged along the interstates without needed supporting infrastructure. 
In my opinion, Burbank Drive needed to be a southern bypass of Baton Rouge. Instead of allowing development, build it as a six-lane controlled access freeway, connecting with Brusly and the Port of Baton Rouge. Have it tie into LA 1 with a major interchange, and become a four-lane surface street connecting with La 415. You can take the now-upgraded Burbank Expressway and spur it to meet I-10 between Highland and Gonzales. It sounds like a pretty good plan to me... Costly, but feasible. I'm sure that the L'auberge casino wouldn't mind easier access to their casino from the east and west.

Burbank Dr. is the southern bypass for LSU, not Baton Rouge.
You sure? I consider Nicholson to Nicholson Extension to Highland as the bypass for LSU. Burbank has the same speed limit, same lights... if BR wants a bypass, build it along the Nicholson corridor, then angle it towards Gonzales. The main purpose would be to take thru traffic off of I-10, but still have access to the major corridors (Gardere substituting for Essen, Bluebonnet, Siegen) for shopping and the like.

brownpelican

No, the Nicholson Extension just took traffic away from the heart of the LSU campus and acts as a better route to get to athletic facilities on Nicholson Drive, which still runs through the campus.

Urban Prairie Schooner

Quote from: pctech on June 17, 2012, 04:49:47 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 11:50:51 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.
Couldn't agree more. Not only do most roads lead to the interstates, development has been encouraged along the interstates without needed supporting infrastructure. 

That's what happens when your urban sprawl relies on former farm to market roads. BR's freeway and arterial system appears to be designed for a city of about half its current size.

mcdonaat

Quote from: Urban Prairie Schooner on June 19, 2012, 08:11:51 PM
Quote from: pctech on June 17, 2012, 04:49:47 PM
Quote from: mcdonaat on June 16, 2012, 11:50:51 PM
Quote from: froggie on June 16, 2012, 10:38:00 PM
Problem there is, to have any sort of reliable travel time probability on the non-Interstates, the signals need to be synchronized. (yes, 'tis true)

Baton Rouge's surface roads downright suck. Instead of a network of boulevards and arterial roads, all you have are roads that lead to the Interstates. When the Interstates get backed up, the surface roads get backed up too.
Couldn't agree more. Not only do most roads lead to the interstates, development has been encouraged along the interstates without needed supporting infrastructure. 

That's what happens when your urban sprawl relies on former farm to market roads. BR's freeway and arterial system appears to be designed for a city of about half its current size.
Baton Rouge could use Airline Highway as a controlled-access freeway, to be honest. The Central Thruway should help with traffic coming from Central towards BR and Gonzales, and a Pecue Lane upgrade to a freeway-style boulevard should help move traffic from I-10 to Woman's. Minimize your stop-and-go on major highways, and you have a guilt-free system.

mcdonaat

Update for Wikipedia: I'm adding Louisiana highway shields in black-and-white for the highways that have been changed 100% from the green shields to the monochrome shields. The one so far that I have done is LA 976, since it's short and has been changed over. If anyone notices a highway that they've clinched recently, and the highway has been changed to black-and-white completely, let me know!

brownpelican

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 21, 2012, 08:19:23 PM
Update for Wikipedia: I'm adding Louisiana highway shields in black-and-white for the highways that have been changed 100% from the green shields to the monochrome shields. The one so far that I have done is LA 976, since it's short and has been changed over. If anyone notices a highway that they've clinched recently, and the highway has been changed to black-and-white completely, let me know!

LA 21, LA 22, LA 25, LA 38, LA 40, LA 59, LA 60, LA 62, LA 445, LA 436, LA 437, LA 438, LA 439, LA 442, LA 443, LA 445, LA 1065, LA 1075, LA 3158.

brownpelican

The state FINALLY plans to widen the last two lane segment of US 190 in Mandeville; expected to go to bid in October.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2012/06/drivers_will_have_to_wait_a_bi.html

Also, the new cash lane on the LA 1 toll bridge in Leesville is causing problems.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2012/06/new_cash_lane_on_leeville_toll.html

mcdonaat

Just for kicks, I'm trying to compile an image collection of parish road markers. I already have Grant, Winn, Rapides, West Baton Rouge, and Natchitoches Parish shields. If anyone knows where I could take a photo of the other 58 (the rest, minus Orleans, since it's unlikely I'll ever find one), it would be appreciated!

Hot Rod Hootenanny

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 24, 2012, 08:17:53 PM
Just for kicks, I'm trying to compile an image collection of parish road markers. I already have Grant, Winn, Rapides, West Baton Rouge, and Natchitoches Parish shields. If anyone knows where I could take a photo of the other 58 (the rest, minus Orleans, since it's unlikely I'll ever find one), it would be appreciated!

East Baton Rouge Parish, just south of Zachary
http://goo.gl/maps/t1IX
Please, don't sue Alex & Andy over what I wrote above

bassoon1986

Quote from: mcdonaat on June 24, 2012, 08:17:53 PM
Just for kicks, I'm trying to compile an image collection of parish road markers. I already have Grant, Winn, Rapides, West Baton Rouge, and Natchitoches Parish shields. If anyone knows where I could take a photo of the other 58 (the rest, minus Orleans, since it's unlikely I'll ever find one), it would be appreciated!

Many exits on I-49 have them for those parishes. Desoto has one at the Stonewall exit. Natchitoches has one at the LA 478 exit. Woodworth exit in Rapides

mcdonaat

#448
I got the Ouachita, Rapides, Natchitoches ones from parish exits, and some from non-exits. Per the one south of Zachary, which road am I supposed to look at? I'm on my iPad, and it only pulls up the satellite view, not the street view, unless I force it to show.

EDIT: I just saw it, and it looks extremely old!! I'm in talks with the DOTD to actually begin signing the parish routes, especially the major ones that connect from the end of a state highway, as a transitioning point.

pctech

I took my first drive across the Audubon bridge north of Baton Rouge this weekend. It's very impressive indeed. There was hardly any traffic at all,( in either direction) I can't help but think that the money for this could have spent better somewhere else in the system. 



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