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Regional Boards => Mid-South => Topic started by: Grzrd on August 27, 2010, 12:42:37 AM

Title: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on August 27, 2010, 12:42:37 AM
Signs are not one of my primary interests, but I know that they are for many in the Forum.  I could not find a general "Louisiana" thread for the western part of Louisiana here, so decided to start one for various topics in the western part of the state.

While perusing the "Projects To Be Let in the Next 6 Months" page on the LaDOTD website (searching for upcoming I-49 North lettings), I noticed that there are many resigning projects currently scheduled to be let in October re Interstates 10, 20, 49 and 220. http://www.dotd.la.gov/lettings/lets8220.asp  I believe details will only be announced when the projects will be announced for bidding.

I have no idea whether these projects will include shield replacement.  Just wanted to provide a "headsup".

Any "keepers" at risk?

I know SE La is discussed on "Southeast" page, but I am just posting here.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: Alex on August 27, 2010, 01:24:41 AM
The state name is supposed to be brought back to Interstate shields in the state. Any guide sign related replacements will likely feature Clearview, as LADOTD is now using that type-face.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on August 28, 2010, 10:21:30 AM
The state name is supposed to be brought back to Interstate shields in the state. Any guide sign related replacements will likely feature Clearview, as LADOTD is now using that type-face.

That's interesting...because none of the I-shields being replaced along I-49 between Lafayette and Opelousas as part of the signage update ongoing there have "Louisiana" stamped on them.  Or, maybe that's because I-49 for now is still an "Intra-state" Interstate??


Anthony
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on August 30, 2010, 11:24:41 PM
In Louisiana part of AASHTO presentation in Little Rock today, Sherri Lebas sets forth LADOTD's "high priority wish list" (with no apparent priority of importance)(http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/unlocking_freight/states/LA_Unlocking_Freight_0610.pdf)
for the next reauthorization bill:

- Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
- Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
- I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
- I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
- I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)
- I-12 from Walker to Slidell
- I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport

I have not driven enough of these routes to have an informed opinion, but I just wanted to ask those who have to provide a ranking of priority of importance.  There has already been a similar, smaller in scale, discussion at Replies 5-21 on "I-49 in LA" thread (particularly good discussion re I-49 vs. maintenance of existing interstates), (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=3124.0) but I thought broader question seems more appropriate for this thread.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: codyg1985 on September 02, 2010, 01:10:38 PM
In Louisiana part of AASHTO presentation in Little Rock today, Sherri Lebas sets forth LADOTD's "high priority wish list" (with no apparent priority of importance)(http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org/unlocking_freight/states/LA_Unlocking_Freight_0610.pdf)
for the next reauthorization bill:

- Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
- Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
- I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
- I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
- I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)
- I-12 from Walker to Slidell
- I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport

I have not driven enough of these routes to have an informed opinion, but I just wanted to ask those who have to provide a ranking of priority of importance.  There has already been a similar, smaller in scale, discussion at Replies 5-21 on "I-49 in LA" thread (particularly good discussion re I-49 vs. maintenance of existing interstates), (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=3124.0) but I thought broader question seems more appropriate for this thread.

I can say that all of I-12, I-10 from the MS River to the I-10/12 split, and I-10 in Metairie need to be widended.

BTW Mods, there are two Louisiana threads, which one should we keep?
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: brownpelican on September 03, 2010, 12:46:16 AM
All postings about Louisiana in the Mid-South group are to be limited to areas of the state west of the Mississippi/Atchafalaya Rivers.

In the Southeast group, all Louisiana threads are posted separately and not in a jumbo Louisiana thread and deal with SE Louisiana only.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on September 03, 2010, 11:51:55 AM
So...what does that mean for discussions of I-49 South, then??

It mostly runs in Southeast/South Central Lousisana, but it is mostly on the West side of the Mississippi.   So...where should the relevant posts go?? Just clarifying things.  :confused: :confused:


Anthony



Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: Alex on September 03, 2010, 12:31:07 PM
So...what does that mean for discussions of I-49 South, then??

It mostly runs in Southeast/South Central Lousisana, but it is mostly on the West side of the Mississippi.   So...where should the relevant posts go?? Just clarifying things.  :confused: :confused:


Anthony


Post them in either regional forum (whichever you prefer), the regional separation is not that rigid really.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: Hot Rod Hootenanny on September 05, 2010, 01:06:49 PM
I was thinking more of a US 165 or US 167 divide.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: UptownRoadGeek on September 16, 2010, 09:43:48 PM
Any guide sign related replacements will likely feature Clearview, as LADOTD is now using that type-face.

I think that clearview is a district wide thing since it's only showing up in one area. They've been replacing signs around New Orleans lately and none of them are in clearview.
Title: US 171/ LA 8/28 Roundabout Construction to Start in October
Post by: Grzrd on September 23, 2010, 11:04:27 AM
U.S. 61 and Causeway Boulevard, one of my all time favorite interchanges
(http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/10/16/2145144/NO2.jpg)
Although not designed to be as dramatic as its Louisiana cousin, the Leesville Roundabout (US 171/ LA 8/28) construction is scheduled to begin in October.  LADOTD has a page devoted to the Leesville Roundabout project (with videos, etc.):

http://www.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/LeesvilleRound/
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: J N Winkler on September 23, 2010, 12:22:51 PM
In regard to the signing projects mentioned in the OP, they have not yet been advertised and plans are not available for any of them.  I will continue to monitor the situation.  Judging by the dollar ranges quoted, it looks like they intend to do some heavy-duty sign panel replacement in all but one or two districts.  The amounts are much greater for Districts 61 & 62, which I assume are splinters of a former District 6 covering the New Orleans area and would therefore have a considerable amount of urban mileage with closely spaced exits.

In my experience it is fairly unusual for LaDOTD to do freeway sign replacements as district-wide jobs (the 737 project codes signify district-wide jobs).  In my collection of pattern-accurate LaDOTD signing sheets, I have just one 737 project, which was done about four years ago to provide I-10 alternate route signing on US 190 etc.  The more usual approach for LaDOTD is to carry out sign upgrades at the corridor level, with Interstate guide sign replacements having 45X project codes (450 = I-10, 454 = I-12, 455 = I-49, etc.).

There might be pattern-accurate sign layout sheets but I am not optimistic.  Sign design sheets--forget it.
Title: Re: Louisiana
Post by: UptownRoadGeek on September 25, 2010, 01:37:57 PM
The amounts are much greater for Districts 61 & 62, which I assume are splinters of a former District 6 covering the New Orleans area and would therefore have a considerable amount of urban mileage with closely spaced exits.

New Orleans is District 02
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on January 26, 2011, 12:07:11 AM
Finishing I-49 NORTH:  #1 priority

I-10 to I-12/MS River:  #2

I-12 Walker-Slidell:  #3

I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport:  #4

The rest I can't rank because I've never driven there.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on February 02, 2011, 09:08:14 AM
Finishing I-49 NORTH:  #1 priority

I-10 to I-12/MS River:  #2

I-12 Walker-Slidell:  #3

I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport:  #4

The rest I can't rank because I've never driven there.



My priorities:

1) Finish I-49 North of I-220

2) I-49 Connector/ I-49 South through Lafayette/New Iberia

3) I-10 through Baton Rouge

4) I-12 from Walker to Slidell (including upgrading of the I-12/I-55 interchange)

5) I-49 Inner City Connector through Shreveport (I-20 - I-220)

6) Finish upgrade of US 90 to Morgan City (including Patterson/Bayou Vista/Berwick section)

7) Widen I-20 in Shreveport and Monroe

8) Widen I-10 in Lafayette


Anthony
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on February 02, 2011, 11:48:28 AM
I noticed that there are many resigning projects currently scheduled to be let in October re Interstates 10, 20, 49 and 220.
Interstate signage upgrade projects for District 02 (I-10, 310, 510 & 610) and District 03 were let today:

http://www.dotd.la.gov/lettings/ebidresl/bwhq20110202.asp

District 04 (I-20 & I-49) & District 05 (I-20) Interstate signage upgrade projects are scheduled for February 23 letting:

http://www.dotd.la.gov/lettings/bidsinfo/bihq20110223.asp
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: lamsalfl on March 20, 2011, 11:42:10 PM
Any guide sign related replacements will likely feature Clearview, as LADOTD is now using that type-face.

I think that clearview is a district wide thing since it's only showing up in one area. They've been replacing signs around New Orleans lately and none of them are in clearview.

the I-12/US 11 interchange has Clearview signage.  However, it's on the ramps and US 11... NOT THE INTERSTATE.  But if you get off there you'd be able to see "Pearl River" and "Slidell" in Clearview. 
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on March 21, 2011, 05:35:21 PM
Oh yay.   :meh:  I'm so looking forward to seeing that when I go down there in May.  I'm not a clearview fan.  X-(
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: agentsteel53 on March 21, 2011, 05:38:59 PM
Oh yay.   :meh:  I'm so looking forward to seeing that when I go down there in May.  I'm not a clearview fan.  X-(

in better news, you can check on a brand new state-named I-10 shield in the town of Iowa!
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Hot Rod Hootenanny on March 21, 2011, 06:54:30 PM
Oh yay.   :meh:  I'm so looking forward to seeing that when I go down there in May.  I'm not a clearview fan.  X-(

in better news, you can check on a brand new state-named I-10 shield in the town of Iowa!

Other than the fact that Iowa and Slidell are as close to one another as San Diego and Los Angeles are to one another.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: agentsteel53 on March 21, 2011, 06:57:28 PM


Other than the fact that Iowa and Slidell are as close to one another as San Diego and Los Angeles are to one another.

I'd drive 130 miles out of my way and 130 miles back to check on a state-named shield. 
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Hot Rod Hootenanny on March 21, 2011, 07:10:42 PM


Other than the fact that Iowa and Slidell are as close to one another as San Diego and Los Angeles are to one another.

I'd drive 130 miles out of my way and 130 miles back to check on a state-named shield. 

Suit yourself.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: agentsteel53 on March 21, 2011, 08:04:17 PM


Suit yourself.

this one we have a good picture of, courtesy of Jeff Royston.  if all we had were lousy pictures then I'd easily do 260 miles round trip to get a good one.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on March 21, 2011, 10:53:17 PM
A couple of years ago, I found a non-neutered, fairly new I-20 shield in Shreveport at the Linwood Ave. exit.  It was pointing the way to I-20 westbound to traffic travelling south on Linwood Ave. (at least I think it was Linwood. May have been Fairfield Ave.)  :confused:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: agentsteel53 on March 21, 2011, 11:19:51 PM
A couple of years ago, I found a non-neutered, fairly new I-20 shield in Shreveport at the Linwood Ave. exit.  It was pointing the way to I-20 westbound to traffic travelling south on Linwood Ave. (at least I think it was Linwood. May have been Fairfield Ave.)  :confused:

I know which one you are talking about.  that, and one like it in the same area, are both dated 1993 if I recall correctly.  that was about the last of the state-named shields LA issued.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: froggie on March 22, 2011, 06:03:48 PM
Quote
I'd drive 130 miles out of my way and 130 miles back to check on a state-named shield.

To be fair, you're not like most people, or even most roadgeeks.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on March 31, 2011, 01:12:48 PM
Maybe some new non-neutered shields will be going up this Summer.  District 4 ((I-20 & I-49) and District 61 (I-10, I-12, and I-110) interstate signage upgrade projects were let yesterday:

http://www.dotd.la.gov/lettings/bidsresl/brhq20110330.asp

Quote
737-94-0072 INTERSTATE SIGNAGE UPGRADE DISTRICT 04
UPGRADE INTERSTATE SIGNAGE AND RELATED WORK
Parish(es): District 04
Route(s): I-20 and I-49
Federal: 9410(502)
Estimated Construction Cost: $589,560.00
Apparent Low Bidder: Acacia Industries, LLC
10324 MEADOWVIEW DRIVE
KEITHVILLE,, LA 71047
Phone: (318)470-1917  $348,388.08
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
737-96-0087 (DBE Goal Project) DISTRICT 61 - INTERSTATE SIGNAGE UPGRADE
TRAFFIC SIGNS AND RELATED WORK.
Parish(es): District 61
Route(s): I-10, I-12 & I-110
Federal: 9610(500)
Estimated Construction Cost: $1,727,870.00
Apparent Low Bidder: Ozark Striping Co. Inc
PO BOX 847
OZARK, AL 36361
Phone: (334)774-2138  $1,059,959.64
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on April 06, 2011, 12:16:45 PM
Tomorrow, NLCOG will discuss a status update on the I-69 SIU 15 that is proposed to be routed to the south of Shreveport.  I don't expect any major announcements, but it will be interesting to see if a project timeline is discussed.

NLCOG's agenda: http://www.nlcog.org/pdfs/MPOPolicy_Agendas/04072011_MPOPolicyAgenda.pdf
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on April 06, 2011, 12:29:23 PM
Seems that there's been some rural four-laning, such as the entire length of US 171. Does LA have a general plan or are they just widening roads as traffic demands?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on April 06, 2011, 12:42:25 PM
Re I-69 SIU 15, I believe they are currently reviewing reviewing revisions to the Preferred Alignment that came about after the EIS was issued:

http://www.i69dotd.com/StudyProcess/default.htm

Here's a link to a map which shows the revision to the Preferred Alignment:

http://www.i69dotd.com/Handouts/July2010/Study_Area.pdf

Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on April 06, 2011, 12:56:05 PM
Seems that there's been some rural four-laning, such as the entire length of US 171. Does LA have a general plan or are they just widening roads as traffic demands?
Here's a link to an overview of the TIMED program:

http://www.timedla.com/programoverview/

Here's a link to a map of the TIMED projects (including US 171):

http://www.timedla.com/improvement/map.htm
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on April 06, 2011, 01:01:30 PM
Ah, OK. Perhaps I'll create a new thread in general highways about this sort of statewide plan.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: 3467 on April 06, 2011, 08:20:08 PM
Please do Illinois has a plan but the best are the links to ongoing projects in Midwest Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.
Iowa is almost done
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on May 20, 2011, 09:36:18 PM
Shreveport may be having its problems with lack of progress on the Inner Loop Extension to the I-69 corridor, but, on the Bossier side of the river, the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway has recently had a land/wetlands swap approved by the feds to allow ITS southward extension to the I-69 corridor:

http://www.bossierpress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3256:land-swap-agreement-okd&catid=1:local-news&Itemid=134

Quote
Police Jury Administrator Bill Altimus announced Wednesday the jury reached an agreement with the federal government for the southward expansion of the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway ... “The southern extension of Arthur Ray Teague Parkway (ARTP) is the highest priority to this parish. That is absolutely terrific news,”  Altimus said ...
Prior to Altimus’ announcement, southward extension of ARTP remained at a stand still while the federal government decided whether to approve a land swap involving an area of protected wetlands ...“We were informed today by Ben Shultz with Congressman Fleming’s office that the federal fish and wildlife agency has signed off on the land swap,”  Altimus said ... Since 2004, the parish officials worked to extend ARTP south with the hopes of relieving traffic congestion by constructing a parkway for seamless traffic flow from south Bossier to the Benton Road ... Bossier Parish Engineer Butch Ford said the parish now seeks to extend ARTP much further than its original stopping point at Caplis-Sligo Road ... Last month, the jury approved a contract with Denmen Engineering to create two designs to extend ARTP all the way to the future site of Interstate 69 ... “The portion we are looking at first will go underneath I-69, that’s why we are looking at that — to try to give people coming into south Bossier into Bossier City and alternate route.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on November 28, 2011, 03:51:01 PM
Work has begun on southward extension of Arthur Ray Teague Parkway to Sligo Road in Bossier Parish, and study regarding possible further southward extension to I-69 corridor should be released in late December to early January:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20111128/NEWS01/111280311/Work-Arthur-Ray-Teague-Parkway-extension-begins?odyssey=nav%7Chead

Quote
Construction of the long-awaited southern extension of Arthur Ray Teague Parkway is under way, Bossier Parish officials say.
The $7.4 million project will extend the parkway from its current terminus at the Bossier City limits and curve behind Plantation Trace subdivision before crossing Red River Wildlife Refuge to connect with Sligo Road.
Officials spent more than six years on a land swap agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to acquire a portion of the refuge for the extension. The process required them to purchase adjacent property to the refuge to swap, two acts of Congress to alter the refuge's boundaries and countless meetings between parish and federal officials.
The Bossier Police Jury and its staff "jumped through a lot of hoops over the last couple of years to get to this point," Parish Administrator Bill Altimus said. "We are extremely pleased that this project has started along with, I am sure, all of the folks who travel this area daily."
Once completed, he said, the project should enhance moving around south Bossier.
"The parkway is the future for south Bossier," said newly elected District 1 Police Juror Bob Brotherton, whose district encompasses far south Bossier.
If the parkway continues farther to Taylortown, as the Police jury is considering, the roadway might connect with other transportation venues such as the proposed Interstate 69 corridor or even a bridge across Red River into the Port of Shreveport-Bossier, he said. "Wherever transportation (corridors) are, there is business. "» We have to look down the road. Ten years from now, this is going to be very important to south Bossier. It's just going to be a magnet for growth."
In April, police jurors hired Denmon Engineering to survey and study further extending the parkway south. Results of the $160,000 study are expected to be released in late December or early January, Altimus said.
Construction of the ongoing extension to Sligo Road is expected to take 15 to 18 months, meaning completion in 2013, according to parish engineer Butch Ford.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on November 29, 2011, 11:20:26 AM
Bossier City is one of the fastest growing cities in Louisiana. Most of the growth and development was on the northern end on Airline Drive at I-220, but the southern side of the city is starting to do the same. That area will boom soon and that parkway will be a great thing. Just Barksdale Blvd/US 71 as the only north south highway until ART Parkway was built
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on January 01, 2012, 12:12:43 PM
In an op-ed in today's Shreveport Times, Brian Bond and Woody Schick of the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, citing the recent success that a unified effort created in obtaining funding to complete I-49 North, list four major transportation projects in the Greater Shreveport area that need to be prioritized in terms of funding: LA 3132 extension, I-49 Inner City Connector, widen Jimmy Davis bridge, and a new southern entrance to Barksdale Air Force Base:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120101/OPINION0106/201010301/2012-Preview-Quick-look-key-issues?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp

Quote
...there are four significant highway construction projects important for our region. It is important for us to prioritize these projects and then work to secure funding to complete them. As we have done in the past, we will survey our members and ask for their input to help prioritize these four projects: extending La. Highway 3132 to the Port of Shreveport-Bossier, the "Inner City" I-49 connector, a new southern entrance for Barksdale Air Force Base and the widening of the Jimmy Davis Bridge over the Red River.

Not surprisingly, I-69 SIU 15, on which a FEIS has not even been completed, is not considered an immediate priority.
Title: Arthur Ray Teague Parkway Extension to I-69 Corridor Progressing
Post by: Grzrd on April 21, 2012, 11:10:42 PM
Work has begun on southward extension of Arthur Ray Teague Parkway to Sligo Road in Bossier Parish, and study regarding possible further southward extension to I-69 corridor should be released in late December to early January:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20111128/NEWS01/111280311/Work-Arthur-Ray-Teague-Parkway-extension-begins?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Quote
If the parkway continues farther to Taylortown, as the Police jury is considering, the roadway might connect with other transportation venues such as the proposed Interstate 69 corridor .... In April, police jurors hired Denmon Engineering to survey and study further extending the parkway south. Results of the $160,000 study are expected to be released in late December or early January

This March 23 article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120323/WEBLOGS0202/120323013/Plans-Parkway-extension-Taylortown-move-forward) indicates that the extension to Taylortown is moving forward:

Quote
South Bossier residents get ready.
As construction continues on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, parish officials are making plans to extend the road further south to Taylortown.
On Wednesday (March 21), jurors approved a revised corridor to Highway 527, relocating part of the route further east to accommodate concerns brought before them at last month’s public meeting.
Parish engineer Butch Ford said the revision would reduce the cost of the project but could affect more wetlands. A firm cost estimate has not been identified but the parish set aside $2.5 million for right of way acquisition in this year.

Construction of the ongoing extension to Sligo Road is expected to take 15 to 18 months, meaning completion in 2013, according to parish engineer Butch Ford.

Also, this April 10 article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120411/NEWS01/204110314/Service-agreements-help-northwest-La-projects-proceed-schedule) indicates that the extension to Sligo Road should be completed by the end of this year:

Quote
Arthur Ray Teague Parkway to Sligo Road, $10 million, extending the parkway from its current terminus at the Bossier City limits behind Plantation Trace subdivision and across a portion of the Red River Wildlife Refuge to connect with Sligo Road. Construction started in November and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on April 22, 2012, 08:56:24 AM
Any chance US 165, US 425, and LA 2 can become signed with directional shields from Bastrop to Mer Rouge? I just want to see the faces of the people driving through when you have a road going from Mer Rouge to Bastrop, signed as North, South, and West, all on the same highway.  :spin:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on April 24, 2012, 05:45:27 PM
I'm surprised. No directions on those? LA usually has state highway signs with no direction but US highways?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on April 24, 2012, 05:48:15 PM
Just says US 165/LA 2/US 425... The signs for US 425 that I've seen paired with state routes have no directional banners. I'm gonna take a few photos and send em to the DOTD. If they say that the signs would be confusing, I'll just say that 425 is in La and ark, and 25 is in Georgia. Now that's confusing!
Title: ART Parkway Construction Progress
Post by: Grzrd on August 13, 2012, 11:42:22 AM
Bossier City is one of the fastest growing cities in Louisiana. Most of the growth and development was on the northern end on Airline Drive at I-220, but the southern side of the city is starting to do the same. That area will boom soon and that parkway will be a great thing. Just Barksdale Blvd/US 71 as the only north south highway until ART Parkway was built
the extension to Sligo Road should be completed by the end of this year:
Quote
Arthur Ray Teague Parkway to Sligo Road, $10 million, extending the parkway from its current terminus at the Bossier City limits behind Plantation Trace subdivision and across a portion of the Red River Wildlife Refuge to connect with Sligo Road. Construction started in November and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

This May 30 TV video report (http://www.ktbs.com/news/Arthur-Ray-Teague-Parkway-extension-on-the-road-to-completion/-/144844/14331242/-/673nevz/-/index.html) has some footage of construction on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, and still projects completion to Sligo Road in January:

Quote
There's light at the end of the tunnel for residents who have been looking forward to the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway extension in southern Bossier City.
Crews are set to begin paving the first 1/2 mile section of the Sligo Road Extension in the next couple of weeks.
"This is the terminus of the city project and it goes south and it'll end at U.S. 71," explains Bruce Easterly, Bossier Parish Engineer.
Easterly says the $8 million project to extend the thoroughfare to Sligo Road near Parkway High School is ahead of schedule.
"There's another 2 1/2 miles that has to be prepared and the base constructed and everything ready."
He adds the extension will help lessen the traffic congestion along Barksdale Boulevard, as well as ease the headache of navigating through this busy section of south Bossier.
"You can come on and get on the parkway and the Sligo Road Extension and go on up and hit downtown with no traffic lights."
Upon expected completion in January 2013, the extension will curve behind Plantation Trace neighborhood and across the Red River Wilderness Refuge to connect to Sligo Road.
There are currently additional plans to extend the Parkway even further south, to Taylortown near Louisiana Highway 527.
Title: Arthur Ray Teague Parkway Extension Ribbon Cutting
Post by: Grzrd on February 27, 2013, 09:24:08 PM
This May 30 TV video report (http://www.ktbs.com/news/Arthur-Ray-Teague-Parkway-extension-on-the-road-to-completion/-/144844/14331242/-/673nevz/-/index.html) has some footage of construction on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, and still projects completion to Sligo Road in January

This article (http://www.bossierpress.com/index.php?view=article&catid=1%3Alocal-news&id=9642%3Aparkway-extension-to-open&tmpl=component&layout=default&page=&option=com_content&Itemid=134) reports on the February 27 ribbon cutting for the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway extension (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bossier+City,+LA&hl=en&ll=32.445754,-93.663425&spn=0.028068,0.038409&sll=32.678125,-83.178297&sspn=7.163737,9.832764&oq=bossier+city+la&t=h&hnear=Bossier+City,+Bossier,+Louisiana&z=15):

Quote
Six years in the making, the expanded Arthur Ray Teague Parkway will open Feb. 27 with a ribbon cutting at Colleen Drive near Parkway High School at 10 a.m. .... The original dream was to extend the parkway south to Sligo Road, but now the jury sees a need to keep expanding the parkway south to the proposed intersection of I-69 near Taylortown.
“When you think long term about the unbelievable amount of people that come out of Red River and Webster Parish into Bossier, and when you look at all the options to move traffic in that area being able to come through and extend the parkway as it was intended, it's going to be great benefit to the parish and city,”  said Altimus.
Potential hurdles include buying right of way, ability to perform the extension, and even the Haynesville Shale ....

(http://i.imgur.com/oFOdUV8.jpg)

edit

This TV video report (http://www.ktbs.com/news/Motorists-business-owners-excited-about-extension-to-parkway/-/144844/19114124/-/15e94j1z/-/index.html) has some footage of the ribboncutting and of the ARTP extension.
Title: Video of Drive on New Section of Arthur Ray Teague Parkway
Post by: Grzrd on March 08, 2013, 12:00:07 PM
This Shreveport Times article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130304/NEWS01/130302002/Lessons-from-Teague-Parkway) includes a video of a drive on the ARTP extension:

Quote
.... Bossier Parish intends to spend $1.5 million this year to acquire the rights of way for another parkway extension, this one to reach what they believe will be the new Interstate 69 corridor. And to complete that five miles of road, Ford said, his team will be looking at the experience of finishing Bossier City’s newest three miles ....
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: RPParish on March 26, 2013, 05:02:29 PM
Priority in my Opinion

1 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
2 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
3 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
4 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
5 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
6 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
7 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)

Most Realistic to Happen

1 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
2 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
3 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
4 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
5 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)
6 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
7 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on March 26, 2013, 05:39:15 PM
Priority in my Opinion

1 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
2 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
3 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
4 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
5 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
6 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
7 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)

Most Realistic to Happen

1 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
2 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
3 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
4 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
5 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)
6 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
7 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)


I-49 North is almost finished (save for the Inner City Connector segment through downtown Shereveport); I-10 through Baton Rouge is simply a pipe dream since the Perkins Road neighborhoods oppose any widening of the existing route; and I-10 between LCH and the TX border is essentially finished save for the upgraded Calcasieu River bridge (and I-210 buys time there).

My list of priorities:

1) I-49 South from Lafayette to Morgan City (including I-49 Connector through Lafayette)
2) I-49 Inner City Connector in Shereveport
3) I-20 widening in Shreveport and Monroe
4) I-10 widening in Lafayette
5) South Bypass Loop OR LA 1/Sunshine Bridge/LA 70 Toll Bypass around BTR/Plaquemine/Donaldsonville
6) I-12 widening Satsuma to I-10/I-59 interchange in Slidell
7) I-49 South Raceland to I-310 segment w/ temp. tie-in to I-10 via I-310
8) Complete Westbank Expressway upgrade to US 90
9) I-10 widening I-310 to Causeway Blvd. (w/ directional connectors to NOLA Louie Armstrong International Airport from/to W I-10)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: RPParish on March 27, 2013, 03:11:21 PM
Priority in my Opinion

1 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
2 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
3 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
4 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
5 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
6 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
7 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)

Most Realistic to Happen

1 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
2 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
3 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
4 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
5 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)
6 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
7 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)


I-49 North is almost finished (save for the Inner City Connector segment through downtown Shereveport); I-10 through Baton Rouge is simply a pipe dream since the Perkins Road neighborhoods oppose any widening of the existing route; and I-10 between LCH and the TX border is essentially finished save for the upgraded Calcasieu River bridge (and I-210 buys time there).

My list of priorities:

1) I-49 South from Lafayette to Morgan City (including I-49 Connector through Lafayette)
2) I-49 Inner City Connector in Shereveport
3) I-20 widening in Shreveport and Monroe
4) I-10 widening in Lafayette
5) South Bypass Loop OR LA 1/Sunshine Bridge/LA 70 Toll Bypass around BTR/Plaquemine/Donaldsonville
6) I-12 widening Satsuma to I-10/I-59 interchange in Slidell
7) I-49 South Raceland to I-310 segment w/ temp. tie-in to I-10 via I-310
8) Complete Westbank Expressway upgrade to US 90
9) I-10 widening I-310 to Causeway Blvd. (w/ directional connectors to NOLA Louie Armstrong International Airport from/to W I-10)
Priority in my Opinion

1 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)
2 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
3 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
4 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
5 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
6 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
7 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)

Most Realistic to Happen

1 Extension of Interstate 49 from Shreveport to the Arkansas Border
2 I-12 from Walker to Slidell
3 I-10 from Texas border to Lake Charles
4 I-20 in Monroe and Shreveport
5 I-10 in New Orleans (Williams Boulevard to Causeway Boulevard)
6 Extend I-49 south of Lafayette to New Orleans
7 I-10 in Baton Rouge (Mississippi River Bridge to the I 10/12 split)


I-49 North is almost finished (save for the Inner City Connector segment through downtown Shereveport); I-10 through Baton Rouge is simply a pipe dream since the Perkins Road neighborhoods oppose any widening of the existing route; and I-10 between LCH and the TX border is essentially finished save for the upgraded Calcasieu River bridge (and I-210 buys time there).

My list of priorities:

1) I-49 South from Lafayette to Morgan City (including I-49 Connector through Lafayette)
2) I-49 Inner City Connector in Shereveport
3) I-20 widening in Shreveport and Monroe
4) I-10 widening in Lafayette
5) South Bypass Loop OR LA 1/Sunshine Bridge/LA 70 Toll Bypass around BTR/Plaquemine/Donaldsonville
6) I-12 widening Satsuma to I-10/I-59 interchange in Slidell
7) I-49 South Raceland to I-310 segment w/ temp. tie-in to I-10 via I-310
8) Complete Westbank Expressway upgrade to US 90
9) I-10 widening I-310 to Causeway Blvd. (w/ directional connectors to NOLA Louie Armstrong International Airport from/to W I-10)

How do you rank these in terms of having a shot to be completed?

I-10 thru Baton Rouge have to be the most head scratching segment of Louisiana's interstates. I agree with you, I dont know how you solve this problem.

Just wondering, why is finishing I-49 south is such a major priority in your opinion?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on May 10, 2013, 10:42:34 PM
I saw a LA 1258 shield in alexandria today. Are they still adding state routes? Because ive never seen this one before. Its on old boyce rd turning south from air base rd at I-49. No jct signs from air base rd (la 498) and I didn't folkow it any further as I was just stopping for gas to make it home to Pineville.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: brownpelican on May 19, 2013, 10:50:44 PM
Just wondering, why is finishing I-49 south is such a major priority in your opinion?

1. Another hurricane evacuation route to Lafayette.
2. A direct freeway to the Port of New Orleans.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on May 19, 2013, 10:55:11 PM
2. A direct freeway to the Port of New Orleans.
From where? Morgan City?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: lamsalfl on May 20, 2013, 12:55:47 AM
I-49 is a critical route because 25% of our nation's oil comes through Port Fourchon (FOO-shawn).  This is a big reason why the LA 1 elevated toll road is being built.  The current LA 1 toll road south of Golden Meadow is probably less than 10 years away from permanently being submerged.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on May 20, 2013, 09:52:13 AM

How do you rank these in terms of having a shot to be completed?

I-10 thru Baton Rouge have to be the most head scratching segment of Louisiana's interstates. I agree with you, I dont know how you solve this problem.

Just wondering, why is finishing I-49 south is such a major priority in your opinion?

1) Hurricane evacuation through South Louisiana (especially Morgan City/Houma/Thibodeaux) NW through Lafayette
2) US 90 accesses major intermodal ports (Port of S LA, Port Fourchon, Port of Iberia, Avondale, NOLA).
3) Serves major petrochemical industry corridor.
4) Most of US 90 already upgraded to freeway standards.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: brownpelican on May 21, 2013, 10:45:16 PM
2. A direct freeway to the Port of New Orleans.
From where? Morgan City?

Yep, if they build it, you'd have a freeway from the CCC along the Westbank Expy to Morgan City to Lafayette.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on May 21, 2013, 11:01:49 PM
2. A direct freeway to the Port of New Orleans.
From where? Morgan City?

Yep, if they build it, you'd have a freeway from the CCC along the Westbank Expy to Morgan City to Lafayette.

Lafayette already has a more direct freeway (check the distances). Only intermediate locations would gain freeway access.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on May 22, 2013, 12:58:24 AM
2. A direct freeway to the Port of New Orleans.
From where? Morgan City?

Yep, if they build it, you'd have a freeway from the CCC along the Westbank Expy to Morgan City to Lafayette.

Lafayette already has a more direct freeway (check the distances). Only intermediate locations would gain freeway access.

Not necessarily, since I-10 technically bypasses the downtown area and traffic aave to go through Baton Rouge. An upgraded US 90/I-49 South would greatly reduce the distance between Lafayette and NOLA, in addition to serving the many ports along the Gulf of Mexico (Port of S Louisiana, Port Fourchon, Port of Iberia, et. al.) as well as Avondale and the Port of NOLA.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on May 22, 2013, 03:15:12 AM
An upgraded US 90/I-49 South would greatly reduce the distance between Lafayette and NOLA
Pure bullshit. You can argue that it will avoid traffic, etc., but I-49 (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Lafayette,+LA&daddr=29.912563,-90.2458949+to:New+Orleans,+LA&hl=en&sll=30.201615,-91.045663&sspn=1.08242,2.113495&geocode=FdouzQEdfeOD-imb2MVkQ5wkhjET__eSJHVKyQ%3BFfNtyAEd-vSe-ilfnm3RE7kghjG5WWtiUv4u1w%3BFVoEyQEdFJ6h-illghGyVKQghjG00yJe6FsG2w&gl=us&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&t=m&z=10) will be longer than I-10 (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=from:+Lafayette,+LA+to:+New+Orleans,+LA&saddr=Lafayette,+LA&daddr=New+Orleans,+LA&hl=en&sll=30.247205,-91.707001&sspn=0.540966,1.056747&geocode=FdouzQEdfeOD-imb2MVkQ5wkhjET__eSJHVKyQ%3BFVoEyQEdFJ6h-illghGyVKQghjG00yJe6FsG2w&gl=us&t=m&z=10) (by 17 miles per the Goog).
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on May 22, 2013, 04:03:21 AM
An upgraded US 90/I-49 South would greatly reduce the distance between Lafayette and NOLA
Pure bullshit. You can argue that it will avoid traffic, etc., but I-49 (http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Lafayette,+LA&daddr=29.912563,-90.2458949+to:New+Orleans,+LA&hl=en&sll=30.201615,-91.045663&sspn=1.08242,2.113495&geocode=FdouzQEdfeOD-imb2MVkQ5wkhjET__eSJHVKyQ%3BFfNtyAEd-vSe-ilfnm3RE7kghjG5WWtiUv4u1w%3BFVoEyQEdFJ6h-illghGyVKQghjG00yJe6FsG2w&gl=us&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=10&via=1&t=m&z=10) will be longer than I-10 (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=from:+Lafayette,+LA+to:+New+Orleans,+LA&saddr=Lafayette,+LA&daddr=New+Orleans,+LA&hl=en&sll=30.247205,-91.707001&sspn=0.540966,1.056747&geocode=FdouzQEdfeOD-imb2MVkQ5wkhjET__eSJHVKyQ%3BFVoEyQEdFJ6h-illghGyVKQghjG00yJe6FsG2w&gl=us&t=m&z=10) (by 17 miles per the Goog).

Perhaps so....but due to the bottleneck facing I-10 at Baton Rouge, I-49 South/US 90 would still be, relatively speaking from a time factor, just about the same as I-10.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cenlaroads on June 13, 2013, 10:35:34 AM
I saw a LA 1258 shield in alexandria today. Are they still adding state routes? Because ive never seen this one before. Its on old boyce rd turning south from air base rd at I-49. No jct signs from air base rd (la 498) and I didn't folkow it any further as I was just stopping for gas to make it home to Pineville.

I checked this out.  LA 1258 seems to be about .25 miles long.  There is a DOTD "End Maintenance" sign where the road enters the wooded residential area past the hotel.  This route must have been added in the past year.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on June 13, 2013, 03:00:46 PM
I saw a LA 1258 shield in alexandria today. Are they still adding state routes? Because ive never seen this one before. Its on old boyce rd turning south from air base rd at I-49. No jct signs from air base rd (la 498) and I didn't folkow it any further as I was just stopping for gas to make it home to Pineville.

I checked this out.  LA 1258 seems to be about .25 miles long.  There is a DOTD "End Maintenance" sign where the road enters the wooded residential area past the hotel.  This route must have been added in the past year.

Aha Thanks. I just don't understand why this small street needs a state highway shield. I can think of many arterials in Louisiana cities that would benefit from one, but this is pointless
Title: I-10 Lake Charles Calcasieu River Bridge EIS Process Beginning
Post by: Grzrd on October 07, 2013, 03:33:04 PM
LaDOTD has posted a Notice of Public Scoping Meeting (http://www.dotd.la.gov/pressreleases/Release.aspx?key=2440) for the I-10 Lake Charles Calcasieu River Bridge project.  The project also has a website (http://www.i10lakecharles.com/) with some good photos of the current bridge.  The Fall 2013 Newsletter (http://www.i10lakecharles.com/images/documents/PublicInvolvement/20131002_H.003931_Calcasieu_Newsletter_Fall2013_FINAL_email.pdf) lists some proposed improvements that will be studied:

Quote
Proposed improvements to be investigated include:
- Designing the proposed bridge structure to accommodate 3 travel lanes and 1 auxiliary lane, with inside and outside shoulders and potential frontage roads in each direction
- Lowering the height of the bridge
- Reducing the existing 420 foot truss span of the bridge to 2 main spans
- Beyond the bridge limits, reconstructing the I-10 mainlanes to accommodate 3 travel lanes in each direction to match the existing typical sections of I-10 outside the proposed project limits
- Redesigning the Sampson Street interchange including review of crossings with existing railroads
- Redesigning the access to and from I-10 on the west side of the bridge between Sampson Street and PPG Drive and near the east end of the bridge
- Consideration of frontage roads from PPG Drive to US 90 East

Here's a project map:

(http://i.imgur.com/4qIqsGz.png)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bugo on October 08, 2013, 11:37:18 AM
The regional divisions on this forum are poorly designated.  States should never be cut in two.  Texas should have its own region.  The entire South should be one region, as should be the Midwest.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Brandon on October 08, 2013, 12:26:54 PM
The regional divisions on this forum are poorly designated.  States should never be cut in two.  Texas should have its own region.  The entire South should be one region, as should be the Midwest.

Well, it's half dozen of one, six of the other, IMHO.  Take Illinois for example.  Do you keep it as one and split Metro East from Saint Louis, or do you split the state and keep them together?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on December 28, 2013, 07:26:45 PM
This Shreveport Times article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130304/NEWS01/130302002/Lessons-from-Teague-Parkway) includes a video of a drive on the ARTP extension:
Quote
.... Bossier Parish intends to spend $1.5 million this year to acquire the rights of way for another parkway extension, this one to reach what they believe will be the new Interstate 69 corridor. And to complete that five miles of road, Ford said, his team will be looking at the experience of finishing Bossier City’s newest three miles ....

This article (http://bossierpress.com/2013/12/27/bossier-city-parish-look-ahead-to-2014/) reports that right of way purchasing for the extension from Sligo Road to LA 527 (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Taylortown,+LA&hl=en&ll=32.404458,-93.622913&spn=0.117684,0.154324&sll=33.767713,-84.420604&sspn=0.463494,0.617294&oq=taylortown&t=h&hnear=Taylortown,+Bossier,+Louisiana&z=13) may begin in late 2014:

Quote
Bossier Parish Administrator Bill Altimus ....
They will also begin planning for the Arthur Ray Teague extension to Hwy. 527. Residents can expect the start right of way platting, and maybe more.
“Depending on how budgets go, we may be purchasing right of way late next year. But we have to get it platted so we know how much we need,”  said Altimus ....
Other projects in 2014 include ... securing a record of decision on Segment of Independence 15 for I-69...
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on January 14, 2014, 06:46:48 PM
This article (http://bossierpress.com/2013/12/27/bossier-city-parish-look-ahead-to-2014/) reports that right of way purchasing for the extension from Sligo Road to LA 527 (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Taylortown,+LA&hl=en&ll=32.404458,-93.622913&spn=0.117684,0.154324&sll=33.767713,-84.420604&sspn=0.463494,0.617294&oq=taylortown&t=h&hnear=Taylortown,+Bossier,+Louisiana&z=13) may begin in late 2014

This Shreveport Times article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140114/NEWS01/301140038/Bossier-Parish-has-too-few-dollars-buy-right-way-Teague-parkway-extension) reports that declining sales tax revenues will delay the above schedule for ROW purchasing:

Quote
Efforts to ensure Arthur Ray Teague Parkway’s connection to the future Interstate 69 have hit a roadblock.
Sales tax revenues for Bossier Parish in 2012 and 2013 were down a combined $3.6 million, which stalled plans to purchase the right-of-ways for the roadway’s future southern extension from its current terminus to Taylortown.
The map detailing the necessary purchases is nearly complete, but there’s no new corridor without money.
“If we had the money, we’d do it today,”  said parish engineer Butch Ford. “What we had to go through to extend Arthur Ray Teague – the 10-year process that it took to do all that – we don’t want to get in the same situation on the extension further south.”  ....
Many of the landowners with property designated for the corridor are even still under the assumption the parish will purchase their property this year, Ford said. The parish has been in contact with them for months about the project.
“Some of those landowners, they’re not aware yet that we’re not purchasing this right-of-way currently. This has just come to light in the past few months,”  Ford said. “They think we’re coming with checks. This story is going to hit them for a loop when they find out the parish revenue have fallen and we’re going to sit tight until we see an uptick in the revenues.”
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 17, 2014, 09:20:03 PM
This is a question concerning Louisiana's big blue service signs (BBSSs):  Why doesn't the DOTD utilize the 9-panel signs (my homemade terminology meaning you can put 9 logo signs on one blue sign) in more places than just I-12?  The biggest they use here on I-20 is the 6-panel model.  I think, in some cases, they end up using more signs at a higher cost than using the 9-panel sign.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on February 17, 2014, 10:03:00 PM
This is a question concerning Louisiana's big blue service signs (BBSSs):  Why doesn't the DOTD utilize the 9-panel signs (my homemade terminology meaning you can put 9 logo signs on one blue sign) in more places than just I-12?  The biggest they use here on I-20 is the 6-panel model.  I think, in some cases, they end up using more signs at a higher cost than using the 9-panel sign.  Any ideas?
Good question. Why does the DOTD use blank service signs along exits where no services are even located, but snub the Pineville Expressway (US 71-167-La 28) and include none? I've also noticed a strong lack of service signs inside of Alexandria on I-49, especially with plenty of gas stations and food places, not to mention lodging. Example - I-49's NB exit with US 71N, aka LSUA exit, has service signage. I-49's SB exit with Sugarhouse Road, used to access US 71N, has no service signage.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on March 09, 2014, 08:54:48 PM
This article (http://www.ksla.com/story/24717519/cable-barirers-5-months-and-waiting) reports a growing impatience with LaDOTD being slow to install cable barriers in NW Louisiana:

Quote
We are not going away.
That's the message from a group of local mothers
, impacted by recent crossover accidents along area interstates and state highways. And they've now taken to Facebook, to garner more support, and to remind the Louisiana DOTD about their promise to install barriers here in northwest Louisiana ....
Kelly Hatfield, an advocate of median cable barriers ....
In a special ceremonial groundbreaking last summer, DOTD told Hatfield and lawmakers at the event that construction would begin on barriers across Bossier and Webster parishes in September. However 5 months later, and there's no sign of work beginning. A very rainy winter, and a hold up on the 80,000 cubic yards of dirt needed to do the work, has been the biggest culprit.
Last summer, The Department of Transportation and Development announced plans to install barriers along I-20 from the Texas state line to Mississippi. The first phase of the project calls for barriers in Bossier and Webster parish. Federal officials suggest any interstate or highway median that is 60 feet or less in width, would be a good candidate for cable barriers. In fact the Federal Highway Administration reports that states with median barriers have seen a decrease in cross-over, head on accidents by 90 percent.
However I-20 is the only highway in north Louisiana destined for barriers. The Terry Bradshaw Passway ... is not on that list.
DOTD spokesperson Susan Stafford says all highways and interstates are evaluated for traffic volume and the number of crossover accidents. She says the Terry Bradshaw Passway has not had the same volume of accidents like I-20. However KSLA News 12 records show there were 4 documented cross over accidents in 2013 alone.
Worth noting, the brand new stretch of I-49 being built in north Caddo Parish does not include cable barriers. However the median there is much larger, 90 feet across, well in excess of federal guidelines for barriers.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on March 09, 2014, 10:57:30 PM
Why does the DOTD use blank service signs along exits where no services are even located, but snub the Pineville Expressway (US 71-167-La 28) and include none? I've also noticed a strong lack of service signs inside of Alexandria on I-49, especially with plenty of gas stations and food places, not to mention lodging. Example - I-49's NB exit with US 71N, aka LSUA exit, has service signage. I-49's SB exit with Sugarhouse Road, used to access US 71N, has no service signage.

I don't think they post those signs in urban areas. I can see a few logic points: 1) You're in a city. You can find food, gas and lodging somewhere. 2) If the exits are close together, you could end up putting too many signs in a short distance. 3) That's what billboards are for.

(These logic points apparently don't hold for I-12 coming into Baton Rouge, which has these signs.)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on March 09, 2014, 11:16:39 PM
Why does the DOTD use blank service signs along exits where no services are even located, but snub the Pineville Expressway (US 71-167-La 28) and include none? I've also noticed a strong lack of service signs inside of Alexandria on I-49, especially with plenty of gas stations and food places, not to mention lodging. Example - I-49's NB exit with US 71N, aka LSUA exit, has service signage. I-49's SB exit with Sugarhouse Road, used to access US 71N, has no service signage.

I don't think they post those signs in urban areas. I can see a few logic points: 1) You're in a city. You can find food, gas and lodging somewhere. 2) If the exits are close together, you could end up putting too many signs in a short distance. 3) That's what billboards are for.

(These logic points apparently don't hold for I-12 coming into Baton Rouge, which has these signs.)
I-10 and I-12 have blue service signage in the middle of Baton Rouge. US 167, a full freeway, has no service signage outside of Tioga or at the US 165 exit... there's not many billboards along the Pineville Expressway either. In fact, to top it off, US 165 at US 167 has Wendy's, McDonalds, Sonic, Huddle House, Burger King, Popeyes, Taco Bell, Outlaw's, Ryan's, Pizza Hut, etc... it also has Sleep Inn, Days Inn, Country Inn and Suites, AND you have a Shell, Chevron, Circle K, Murphy USA. All of these national companies would be just as willing to put their names on blue signage as the same places in large cities.

I've sent an email to the DOTD. I'm hoping I get a clear answer as to why there are no service signs along the expressway (and I-49), and the absence of exit tabs on the Pineville Expressway, while US 71 has exit tabs where it isn't even an expressway.

Anyways, for Western Louisiana, US 84 is in the planning stages of being widened through Jena, and LA 8 is getting a brand new bridge south of Harrisonburg.

And for the question earlier about LA 1258, it's the result of I-49 being built. Old Boyce Road was sliced in half, and realigned to meet the new LA 498 interchange. LA 498 Spur was the old number, but since the spur lead nowhere, they decided to renumber it as a 12XX route. Spurs are kept, apparently, to run from one state route to another (LA 415 Spur is an example, or LA 987-3 Spur). Old Boyce Road south of LA 498 SHOULD be a parish road, but due to the massive amount of truck traffic, it's kept as a piece of the state system. Truck traffic refers to the truck stops, CNG refueling station, and restaurants and hotels.

By the way, US 84 will be four-laned in Logansport, Winnfield, Jena, Jonesville, and between Ferriday and Natchez (as US 65-84). The state knows better than to four-lane the road in rural areas before LA 28 is four-laned!
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on March 10, 2014, 12:00:58 AM
If LA 1258 is in Alexandria, someone needs to notify Google Maps. It found LA 1258 in St. Francisville, and doesn't label Old Boyce Rd as 1258.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on March 10, 2014, 01:20:23 AM
If LA 1258 is in Alexandria, someone needs to notify Google Maps. It found LA 1258 in St. Francisville, and doesn't label Old Boyce Rd as 1258.
LA 1258 in St. Francisville is LA 1263. DOTD put up the wrong number for the highway (1263), and it only came to my attention after the highway was added into the Goog.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on January 20, 2015, 04:46:13 PM
This Dec. 8, 2014 video (http://www.ktbs.com/story/27579460/bossier-parish-officials-plan-several-road-improvement-projects-in-2015) provides a good overview of road projects planned for Bossier Parish in 2015, including a planned north-south corridor.



This Shreveport Times article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140114/NEWS01/301140038/Bossier-Parish-has-too-few-dollars-buy-right-way-Teague-parkway-extension) reports that declining sales tax revenues will delay the ... schedule for ROW purchasing:
Quote
Efforts to ensure Arthur Ray Teague Parkway’s connection to the future Interstate 69 have hit a roadblock.
Sales tax revenues for Bossier Parish in 2012 and 2013 were down a combined $3.6 million, which stalled plans to purchase the right-of-ways for the roadway’s future southern extension from its current terminus to Taylortown

The video report also briefly mentions that ROW acquisition for the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway southern extension to Taylortown and the I-69 Corridor should resume in 2015:

Quote
Also on the police jury to-do list for 2015, acquiring more right-of-way for continued expansion of the Arthur Ray Teague parkway south to Taylortown.
The parish needs an alternate path for a corridor that is constricted by the Red River, a railroad and a two-lane U.S. Hwy 71.
If there is an accident, for instance, there is no alternate route for north-south traffic other than looping east, says Parish Administrator Bill Altimus.
Also, with continued residential development and oil and gas drilling, property isn't going to get any cheaper.
"We can't print enough money,'' to buy a Haynesville Shale well site, said Altimus.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Tom958 on January 23, 2015, 06:55:17 AM
This article (http://www.ksla.com/story/24717519/cable-barirers-5-months-and-waiting) reports a growing impatience with LaDOTD being slow to install cable barriers in NW Louisiana:

Quote
...and a hold up on the 80,000 cubic yards of dirt needed to do the work...

OK, I'll bite: Why do they need such an ungodly amount of dirt?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: lordsutch on January 23, 2015, 09:05:27 AM
OK, I'll bite: Why do they need such an ungodly amount of dirt?

You need to regrade the medians in places so vehicles don't submarine or fly over the cables. They may also be modernizing the left shoulders at the same time.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Alps on January 27, 2015, 10:34:29 PM
Is there anything roads-worthy or tourist-unique between the I-10 and I-20 corridors, besides simply driving I-49? I've looked at Natchitoches and Alexandria and come up empty.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on January 27, 2015, 11:08:38 PM
Is there anything roads-worthy or tourist-unique between the I-10 and I-20 corridors, besides simply driving I-49? I've looked at Natchitoches and Alexandria and come up empty.

Dirt section of old, old 71 east of Melville (ferry is closed, though)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on January 27, 2015, 11:42:52 PM
Great River Road is definitely touristy, if that's not too far east.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: dfwmapper on January 27, 2015, 11:48:01 PM
In terms of roads, the O.K. Allen (old) and Fort Buhlow (new) US 71/165bridges over the Red River, and the traffic circle in Alexandria. Nothing too extraordinary.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on January 29, 2015, 06:36:41 AM
In terms of roads, the O.K. Allen (old) and Fort Buhlow (new) US 71/165bridges over the Red River, and the traffic circle in Alexandria. Nothing too extraordinary.

The new bridge is right beside the old bridge.  I went over the old bridge in October (with my 15 year-old son driving  :-o ) and it was still fun to drive.  Big trucks are forbidden on this bridge due to being so narrow.  The new bridge is close to being completed.

If you like old eating establishments that serve plate lunches and homemade pies (and who doesn't??  :sombrero:), stop in at Lea's Lunchroom in LeCompte (south of Alexandria).  It is in between the north and southbound lanes of US 71/167 (which I declare the least driven 4 -lane divided highway ever due to the existence of I-49).

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0884293,-92.3960841,17z (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.0884293,-92.3960841,17z)

If you like old downtown areas with cobblestone streets, you need to see Natchitoches.  The LA 1 and LA 6 business routes meet here, and depending on if you come in on the weekend, you could encounter live music being played on the bank of the  Cane River Lake.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on January 29, 2015, 12:20:14 PM
If you've got the time and you're going from Shreveport to Baton Rouge (or vice versa), skip I-49 and take LA 1. If you are a bonafide road/travel geek you have to pass through Natchitoches at least once. Stop at Lasyone's restaurant and ask for a meat pie. Watch the cotton fields give way to sugarcane as you make your way south. And drive over the Morganza Spillway.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on January 30, 2015, 04:49:12 PM
Is there anything roads-worthy or tourist-unique between the I-10 and I-20 corridors, besides simply driving I-49? I've looked at Natchitoches and Alexandria and come up empty.
From personal experience, take US 71 into Clarence, east at Grayson's BBQ (any day but Monday), and then LA 6 to LA 1 Business through the downtown to Front Street. You can go antique shopping, and then take LA 494 along the Cane River and see some old plantations along with riding the original Jefferson Highway for a portion. DO NOT TAKE LA 1220 TO THE RIVER, since you will get stuck along the dirt road, even with some beautiful sections that are lined with oaks and pecan trees.

You can come into Boyce and Alexandria on LA 1, and take US 71 through Lecompte to Lea's and Bunkie (the last stop before Krotz Springs or Opelousas). Between Bunkie and Baton Rouge or Lafayette, there's nothing to see at all... other than Dr Pepper with cane sugar (the only instance in the state of it being Pepsi-owned) and Mr Pibb.

As far as road-related stuff, you have the Jefferson Highway along US 171 to LA 6 to US 71, along with many abandoned bridges, and Alexandria is home to a 1940's-vintage bypass, with a traffic circle and frontage roads that still exist from around the time of World War II. A modern four-lane highway, with frontage roads, that have culverts dated 1942. It's also the only part of the state which will give you every major metro city on a guide sign (Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles). Natchitoches has the only cutout outline still on a guide sign for a Louisiana route, other than in Shreveport. It's a boring ride for the most part, though.

Just my $2. I would personally take I-20 to US 165 in Monroe, then take LA 15 between Monroe and Archibald and cross the 1939 Boeuf River Bridge on a beautiful ride from swamps to cotton fields to forested hills. Take US 425 from Archibald to Peck and turn on LA 913 to see a spring where you can still get water from the side of the hill. Then head back east to US 425 in Sicily Island, and take it through Ferriday and Natchez (each home of a KFC all you can eat buffet) and take US 61 south to Baton Rouge and I-10.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on February 01, 2015, 08:28:16 PM
It's also the only part of the state which will give you every major metro city on a guide sign (Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles).

Where in Alexandria can you find New Orleans on a guide sign??

Ferriday and Natchez (each home of a KFC all you can eat buffet)

KFC buffets are quite common. If giving portion control the middle finger is your thing, you have to hit the Popeye's buffet in Lafayette, on Pinhook Road at S. College in the Oil Center. (I'm also quite fond of the seafood buffet at Lagneaux's on Ridge Rd.)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on February 01, 2015, 08:59:54 PM
I can't link from my phone, but there's a small guide sign just south of the traffic circle in Alexandria on US 71 for Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on February 02, 2015, 12:17:27 AM
It's also the only part of the state which will give you every major metro city on a guide sign (Shreveport, Lafayette, Monroe, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles).

Where in Alexandria can you find New Orleans on a guide sign??

Ferriday and Natchez (each home of a KFC all you can eat buffet)

KFC buffets are quite common. If giving portion control the middle finger is your thing, you have to hit the Popeye's buffet in Lafayette, on Pinhook Road at S. College in the Oil Center. (I'm also quite fond of the seafood buffet at Lagneaux's on Ridge Rd.)
Head south on US 71 from the traffic circle, and you will see a sign that says Baton Rouge XX, New Orleans XX. It's slight, but it exists. It isn't a guide sign, but it's right after a guide sign. That counts for something, right?

Forgot to mention that you can also reach Texas and Mississippi in less than an hour and a half, so if you bail out, it's the most fair place to do it.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 02, 2015, 10:52:49 PM
I can't link from my phone, but there's a small guide sign just south of the traffic circle in Alexandria on US 71 for Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Here ya go Bassoon & jbnv:  https://www.google.com/maps/@31.271897,-92.463985,3a,37.5y,145.97h,80.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s3s22FhhO9pNLDT1EZaymTQ!2e0 (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.271897,-92.463985,3a,37.5y,145.97h,80.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s3s22FhhO9pNLDT1EZaymTQ!2e0)

I believe this is an older view because the current sign is much smaller with a much uglier font.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on February 04, 2015, 09:41:18 PM
I can't link from my phone, but there's a small guide sign just south of the traffic circle in Alexandria on US 71 for Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Here ya go Bassoon & jbnv:  https://www.google.com/maps/@31.271897,-92.463985,3a,37.5y,145.97h,80.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s3s22FhhO9pNLDT1EZaymTQ!2e0 (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.271897,-92.463985,3a,37.5y,145.97h,80.01t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1s3s22FhhO9pNLDT1EZaymTQ!2e0)

I believe this is an older view because the current sign is much smaller with a much uglier font.

I was thinking of BGSs so I didn't consider that sign, which I have seen in person. Harkens back to the pre-I-49 days when so many cross-state trips would take you through the South Traffic Circle.(1) Going through the South Traffic Circle makes you feel like you can get anywhere in the state, too.

Ironically, now if you take I-49 to cross the state, you get Shreveport and Opelousas. Progress.

(1)  Yes, there was a North Traffic Circle, at the junction of US 71-165 and LA 1, removed and replaced with a stack interchange in the 1990s.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 04, 2015, 10:21:32 PM
(1)  Yes, there was a North Traffic Circle, at the junction of US 71-165 and LA 1, removed and replaced with a stack interchange in the 1990s.

I actually remember that traffic circle before I-49 was built through Alexandria.  My question is...because I only remember these traffic circles as a very young child...was there ever a 3rd traffic circle?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: NE2 on February 04, 2015, 10:37:07 PM
I actually remember that traffic circle before I-49 was built through Alexandria.  My question is...because I only remember these traffic circles as a very young child...was there ever a 3rd traffic circle?
Not on the 1958 topo. Interestingly, the north circle was a lot smaller (though a larger square was cleared around it), and was initially a three-way intersection before the bypass was added to the southwest.

PS: the north circle is now a folded diamond, not a stack.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cenlaroads on March 18, 2015, 09:38:26 AM
Here is an update on the O.K. Allen Bridge replacement project in Alexandria. (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=6982)

The old bridge was closed yesterday, and traffic has been rerouted to the new northbound structure.  Preliminary demolition of the old bridge will begin soon.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on March 18, 2015, 09:55:51 AM
Here is an update on the O.K. Allen Bridge replacement project in Alexandria. (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=6982)

The old bridge was closed yesterday, and traffic has been rerouted to the new northbound structure.  Preliminary demolition of the old bridge will begin soon.

Bummer :(
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on March 19, 2015, 06:21:01 AM
Here is an update on the O.K. Allen Bridge replacement project in Alexandria. (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=6982)

The old bridge was closed yesterday, and traffic has been rerouted to the new northbound structure.  Preliminary demolition of the old bridge will begin soon.

Bummer :(

I'll mark that off of the list of things to see for the LA road meet next year.   :no: :banghead:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on March 19, 2015, 10:25:18 AM
Here is an update on the O.K. Allen Bridge replacement project in Alexandria. (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=6982)

The old bridge was closed yesterday, and traffic has been rerouted to the new northbound structure.  Preliminary demolition of the old bridge will begin soon.

Bummer :(

I'll mark that off of the list of things to see for the LA road meet next year.   :no: :banghead:

There was also a concrete RR bridge just up the road, which is also being replaced. :(
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cenlaroads on March 26, 2015, 09:41:41 AM
The 'Current Construction' (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/engineering/construction/) webpage for LA DOTD is finally back online.  At least for now.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on March 26, 2015, 08:11:58 PM
I find it interesting that 2 projects in Union Parish are listed as US 63 instead of US 167.  :pan:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on April 13, 2015, 06:50:47 AM
I am not a fan of round abouts, but apparently LaDOTD is becoming a fan of them.  Here is an announcement about an upcoming project: http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/home.aspx?key=26 (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/public_info/projects/home.aspx?key=26)

I would love to have the toys they are using to build the scale model of their ideas (look at the bottom images).  :nod: :clap:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: pctech on April 14, 2015, 02:00:53 PM
I remember the Alexandria traffic circles from trips to N. Louisiana as a kid. I haven't been thru there in 20 yrs. I bet.
I also faintly remember a traffic circle here in BR. Florida & Airline Hwy.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on April 17, 2015, 07:34:15 PM
I also faintly remember a traffic circle here in BR. Florida & Airline Hwy.

Memory, be refreshed. (http://cdm16313.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/LHP/id/11414) Given how ugly the current interchange is, compared to the Alexandria traffic circle, I'm almost tempted to suggest they should have left it that way.

(Speaking of the Alexandria traffic circle: I got to take my wife and stepson on their first trips through the circle this past week. I feel my Louisiana highway pride abounding. :D )
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on April 20, 2015, 10:49:41 PM
Quote
http://www.ksla.com/story/28852452/south-bossier-bridge-caves-in-over-red-chute-bayou?utm_source=site&utm_medium=meganav&utm_campaign=meganav
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on April 21, 2015, 03:44:46 PM
So apparently US 371 has a new alignment near it's southern terminus at I-49. I had not seen anything in the news, but it looks like US 371 breaks away from LA 177 to meet US 84 and LA 1 at the Red Riover bridge crossing. This makes a lot more sense and makes it a lot easier to cross the river into Coushatta from the interstate.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.0012552,-93.4015931,13z
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mcdonaat on April 27, 2015, 03:45:39 PM
So apparently US 371 has a new alignment near it's southern terminus at I-49. I had not seen anything in the news, but it looks like US 371 breaks away from LA 177 to meet US 84 and LA 1 at the Red Riover bridge crossing. This makes a lot more sense and makes it a lot easier to cross the river into Coushatta from the interstate.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.0012552,-93.4015931,13z
I see that on Google Maps, but went thru the US 371/LA 1 interchange for the first time in January, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It seemed like US 371 was still signed to LA 177, and there are no projects listed to realign the highway. Maybe the parish is upgrading the highway so that they can obtain LA 177 (although that would be very weird), but no record of a realignment is on LA DOTD's website.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on April 27, 2015, 09:11:43 PM
So apparently US 371 has a new alignment near it's southern terminus at I-49. I had not seen anything in the news, but it looks like US 371 breaks away from LA 177 to meet US 84 and LA 1 at the Red Riover bridge crossing. This makes a lot more sense and makes it a lot easier to cross the river into Coushatta from the interstate.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.0012552,-93.4015931,13z
I see that on Google Maps, but went thru the US 371/LA 1 interchange for the first time in January, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It seemed like US 371 was still signed to LA 177, and there are no projects listed to realign the highway. Maybe the parish is upgrading the highway so that they can obtain LA 177 (although that would be very weird), but no record of a realignment is on LA DOTD's website.

US 371 & LA 177 are co-signed on I-49's BGSs.  I drove on LA 1 last month from Shreveport to Natchitoches and it does join US 84 and crosses the river there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.958991,-93.445215,3a,37.5y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sAva9dQwXD5Q_jfANMcDM7Q!2e0 (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.958991,-93.445215,3a,37.5y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sAva9dQwXD5Q_jfANMcDM7Q!2e0)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cenlaroads on April 27, 2015, 10:12:33 PM
So apparently US 371 has a new alignment near it's southern terminus at I-49. I had not seen anything in the news, but it looks like US 371 breaks away from LA 177 to meet US 84 and LA 1 at the Red Riover bridge crossing. This makes a lot more sense and makes it a lot easier to cross the river into Coushatta from the interstate.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.0012552,-93.4015931,13z
I see that on Google Maps, but went thru the US 371/LA 1 interchange for the first time in January, so nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It seemed like US 371 was still signed to LA 177, and there are no projects listed to realign the highway. Maybe the parish is upgrading the highway so that they can obtain LA 177 (although that would be very weird), but no record of a realignment is on LA DOTD's website.

US 371 & LA 177 are co-signed on I-49's BGSs.  I drove on LA 1 last month from Shreveport to Natchitoches and it does join US 84 and crosses the river there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@31.958991,-93.445215,3a,37.5y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sAva9dQwXD5Q_jfANMcDM7Q!2e0 (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.958991,-93.445215,3a,37.5y,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sAva9dQwXD5Q_jfANMcDM7Q!2e0)

The realignment of US 371 shown on Google Maps is correct.  Construction was completed sometime before October 2014.  Here is the Route Numbering Application submitted to AASHTO by LA DOTD in October. (http://route.transportation.org/Documents/AASHTO%20US%20371.pdf)  It includes a map of the realignment.  I remember seeing the construction underway in May of 2014.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Grzrd on September 26, 2015, 09:36:51 PM
This Shreveport Times article (http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20140114/NEWS01/301140038/Bossier-Parish-has-too-few-dollars-buy-right-way-Teague-parkway-extension) reports that declining sales tax revenues will delay the ... schedule for ROW purchasing:
Quote
Efforts to ensure Arthur Ray Teague Parkway’s connection to the future Interstate 69 have hit a roadblock.
Sales tax revenues for Bossier Parish in 2012 and 2013 were down a combined $3.6 million, which stalled plans to purchase the right-of-ways for the roadway’s future southern extension from its current terminus to Taylortown
This Dec. 8, 2014 video (http://www.ktbs.com/story/27579460/bossier-parish-officials-plan-several-road-improvement-projects-in-2015) .... briefly mentions that ROW acquisition for the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway southern extension to Taylortown and the I-69 Corridor should resume in 2015:
Quote
Also on the police jury to-do list for 2015, acquiring more right-of-way for continued expansion of the Arthur Ray Teague parkway south to Taylortown.
The parish needs an alternate path for a corridor that is constricted by the Red River, a railroad and a two-lane U.S. Hwy 71.

This interview with an incumbent for Bossier Parish Police Jury District 5 (http://bossierpress.com/carlson-interview-with-jack-bump-skaggs-incumbent-for-bossier-parish-police-jury-district-5/) has the Juror commenting that progress on buying ROW for the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway down to Taylortown is one of the Jury's great accomplishments over the past four years and that they intend to continue doing so:

Quote
Folks who live in Bossier Parish Police Jury District 5 will want to spend some time talking with Juror Jack Skaggs about his first four years on the Jury, and reasons he’s committed to continue serving the district over the next Jury term ....
Skaggs detailed Jury accomplishments over the last four years, starting with the southern extension of the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, where it presently ends near Parkway High School.
“…Trying to be progressive, we’ve approached going ahead and buying the right-of-way down to Taylortown …as we know, real estate keeps going up and if we can find the funding to buy a couple of acres that way, we’ll continue to do that,”  he said.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on September 27, 2015, 02:56:26 PM
Here is an update on the O.K. Allen Bridge replacement project in Alexandria. (http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=6982)

The old bridge was closed yesterday, and traffic has been rerouted to the new northbound structure.  Preliminary demolition of the old bridge will begin soon.
Was demolished yesterday :(


MB886

Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on September 29, 2015, 12:22:50 AM
Article in yesterday's Daily Advertiser about new efforts to revive the idea of a loop tollway around Lafayette to accompany the I-49 South/I-49 Lafayette Connector corridor:

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/07/01/still-loop/29588975/

Included is a map of three alternatives of the proposed loop.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on September 29, 2015, 08:26:54 AM
Article (http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/07/01/still-loop/29588975/) in yesterday's Daily Advertiser about new efforts to revive the idea of a loop tollway around Lafayette to accompany the I-49 South/I-49 Lafayette Connector corridor:

“We are talking about La. 31 toward St. Martinville, La. 13 in Rapides Parish. U.S. 14. U.S. 190, U.S. 71, U.S. 17.”  Did he give this interview drunk?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on September 29, 2015, 04:57:42 PM
Yeah, I noticed that. Someone at the Advertiser needs some proofreading skills.


And, how exactly do you upgrade two-lane roads to tollway standards for this "smart roads" scheme? And what roads would you use? US 167 from Maurice to Abbeville? LA 14 from Abbeville to New Iberia? LA 31 through St. Martinville?? US 190 through Opelousas?? Really???


Personally, I'd simply concentrate on the SW perimeter of the LRX between I-10 near Scott and US 90/Future I-49 just north of New Iberia. That would make for a convenient shortcut for traffic wanting to escape the madness of Baton Rouge going to NOLA. Plus, if you wanted create a southern I-10 or I-6 combining that portion of the LRX and the majority of I-49 South to NOLA, that would do the job....and you could still keep I-49 for the remaining portions through Broussard and Lafayette. 
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on September 29, 2015, 05:36:03 PM
And, how exactly do you upgrade two-lane roads to tollway standards for this "smart roads" scheme? And what roads would you use? US 167 from Maurice to Abbeville? LA 14 from Abbeville to New Iberia? LA 31 through St. Martinville?? US 190 through Opelousas?? Really???

I spent some time trying to figure out what they are talking about. The only thing that makes sense, as a bypass loop around Lafayette, is a tollway that does this: Branch off of I-10 just east of Crowley. Bypass Crowley to the east. Pick up LA 13 south of Crowley and follow it to just north of Kaplan. Leave LA 13 and veer east, bypassing Kaplan. Pick up LA 14 east of Kaplan, and follow it to New Iberia, making use of bypasses around Abbeville and Erath and bypassing or bisecting Delcambre.

Now, as you know, Louisiana does not have a tradition of building new highways in this manner. I can't think of any case where Louisiana took a major length of an existing two-lane road and incorporated it into a freeway. I can think of a few cases where Louisiana used an existing two-lane road as a service road for a new freeway, but that's it. This sort of thing just doesn't fit either Louisiana history or Louisiana attitudes about roads.

The only other logical thing I can think of that uses existing routes is upgrading US 190 from Kinder to Baton Rouge.

Personally, I'd simply concentrate on the SW perimeter of the LRX between I-10 near Scott and US 90/Future I-49 just north of New Iberia. That would make for a convenient shortcut for traffic wanting to escape the madness of Baton Rouge going to NOLA. Plus, if you wanted create a southern I-10 or I-6 combining that portion of the LRX and the majority of I-49 South to NOLA, that would do the job....and you could still keep I-49 for the remaining portions through Broussard and Lafayette.

Personally, I have a feeling that LRX is largely a pipe dream. Once I-49 is finished through Lafayette, LRX won't be much of a shortcut. Lafayette still isn't Houston. The main reason that we need LRX is because there is no freeway through Lafayette. LRX basically keep people in Vermilion Parish and Lafayette's south/western suburbs from having to go into Lafayette to catch a freeway. I'm just having a hard time seeing how people will support the cost of LRX once I-49 is complete through Lafayette.

(Oh, if I could go back 60 years and show Lafayette people what a mess Ambassador Caffery is today, because it was built as an arterial rather than a limited-access freeway...)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on September 29, 2015, 07:10:50 PM
And, how exactly do you upgrade two-lane roads to tollway standards for this "smart roads" scheme? And what roads would you use? US 167 from Maurice to Abbeville? LA 14 from Abbeville to New Iberia? LA 31 through St. Martinville?? US 190 through Opelousas?? Really???

I spent some time trying to figure out what they are talking about. The only thing that makes sense, as a bypass loop around Lafayette, is a tollway that does this: Branch off of I-10 just east of Crowley. Bypass Crowley to the east. Pick up LA 13 south of Crowley and follow it to just north of Kaplan. Leave LA 13 and veer east, bypassing Kaplan. Pick up LA 14 east of Kaplan, and follow it to New Iberia, making use of bypasses around Abbeville and Erath and bypassing or bisecting Delcambre.

Now, as you know, Louisiana does not have a tradition of building new highways in this manner. I can't think of any case where Louisiana took a major length of an existing two-lane road and incorporated it into a freeway. I can think of a few cases where Louisiana used an existing two-lane road as a service road for a new freeway, but that's it. This sort of thing just doesn't fit either Louisiana history or Louisiana attitudes about roads.

The only other logical thing I can think of that uses existing routes is upgrading US 190 from Kinder to Baton Rouge.


Crowley to Kaplan to New Iberia?? That would be one hell of an outer loop, further than even the Grand Parkway in Houston. As if, Duson and Rayne are exburbs of Lafayette?? LOL

Quote
Personally, I'd simply concentrate on the SW perimeter of the LRX between I-10 near Scott and US 90/Future I-49 just north of New Iberia. That would make for a convenient shortcut for traffic wanting to escape the madness of Baton Rouge going to NOLA. Plus, if you wanted create a southern I-10 or I-6 combining that portion of the LRX and the majority of I-49 South to NOLA, that would do the job....and you could still keep I-49 for the remaining portions through Broussard and Lafayette.

Personally, I have a feeling that LRX is largely a pipe dream. Once I-49 is finished through Lafayette, LRX won't be much of a shortcut. Lafayette still isn't Houston. The main reason that we need LRX is because there is no freeway through Lafayette. LRX basically keep people in Vermilion Parish and Lafayette's south/western suburbs from having to go into Lafayette to catch a freeway. I'm just having a hard time seeing how people will support the cost of LRX once I-49 is complete through Lafayette.

(Oh, if I could go back 60 years and show Lafayette people what a mess Ambassador Caffery is today, because it was built as an arterial rather than a limited-access freeway...)

Strangely enough, one of the original alignments for the LRX did use the southern extension of Ambassador Caffery Parkway for its eastern terminus with US 90/Future I-49 South. The current plans for the Ambassador Caffery interchange with US 90 even includes as part of its ultimate buildout additional ROW for direct connection flyover ramps for the northbound I-49 to westbound ACP and eastbound ACP to northbound I-49 movements. Though, more than likely, that will be eliminated for cost reasons and the ultimate interchange will be a more urban-like slip-ramp diamond with continuous access roads flanking the mainlines.

The more appropriate eastern terminus for the LRX with I-49 would probably be somewhere near where Captain Cade Road intersects with US 90, between the Young Street/LA 92 intersection (which will be converted to an interchange) and the LA 88 interchange.

Ambassador Caffery as a freeway probably wouldn't fly because there is simply too many direct access businesses along it. Heck, the original plans for an interchange between ACP and Johnston Street near Acadiana Mall were too much, so that they have reduced that down to a reduced phased intersection (I assume using Ridge Road to reduce the phases).


Also...given how much Broussard and Youngsville are blowing up, as well as Scott, there is more justification for the LRX than many think. It may be a pipe dream for now, but down the line after I-49 is finished, it could become a distinct reality.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on December 12, 2016, 11:31:47 AM
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/2016/12/12/barksdale--20220-interchange-upgrade-priority/95146482/

Shreveport Times article about the continuation of I-220 in Bossier City to an east Barksdale AFB entrance. There are 3 diagrams showing the potential expanded I-20/I-220 interchange. The original setup would have added loop ramps from NB to WB and WB to SB movements. The other two are mainly variations on northbound from the base to westbound I-20.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on December 13, 2016, 08:06:27 PM
When the I-20/I-220 eastern interchange was originally built, the dirt work was built up to create a full cloverleaf interchange. Apparently no one currently likes that idea.

Wouldn't lots of $$ be saved making it a cloverleaf? All they need is bridges & concrete pavement.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on December 13, 2016, 08:13:50 PM
When the I-20/I-220 eastern interchange was originally built, the dirt work was built up to create a full cloverleaf interchange. Apparently no one currently likes that idea.

Wouldn't lots of $$ be saved making it a cloverleaf? All they need is bridges & concrete pavement.

Just a guess, but highway construction standards have likely changed, which (in theory) could require reconstruction.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: The Ghostbuster on December 14, 2016, 03:14:07 PM
Was Interstate 220 and LA 3132 planned to have been a full beltway around Shreveport? The stub ramps at the eastern 20/220 junction suggests this possibility. Also, will the Barksdale Air Force Base Connector have a highway designation? I doubt it will be an extension of Interstate 220.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on December 15, 2016, 02:08:16 AM
Was Interstate 220 and LA 3132 planned to have been a full beltway around Shreveport? The stub ramps at the eastern 20/220 junction suggests this possibility. Also, will the Barksdale Air Force Base Connector have a highway designation? I doubt it will be an extension of Interstate 220.

The original plan, AFAIK, was to complete I-220/LA 3132 as a full freeway loop passing through Barksdale AFB, but I guess either it was too expensive or Barksdale opposed it.

I'm guessing that since the new route will be simply a gateway to Barksdale, it will get an LA 1xxx shield or no number at all.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Bobby5280 on December 15, 2016, 10:58:48 AM
I don't know what the problem is involving Barksdale AFB. I-220 would have cut through the East side of the base, well away from the military air field. It's just woods and swamp land through there. They could fence or wall off that part of the highway and have surveillance systems running.

Here in Oklahoma I-44 cuts right through the middle of Fort Sill, dividing the East Range and the rest of the post to the West. ODOT needs to widen and improve the stretch of I-44 at Exit 41 adjacent to the Polo Field and going to Fort Sill's Key Gate. The Interstate is very sub-standard through there. The shoulders are inadequate compared to modern Interstate standards. There's no interior left shoulder to speak of; the Jersey barrier dividing both directions of traffic is hugging very close to the edge of the left lane. ODOT has improved the highway North and South of that stretch, but left that narrow, sub-standard piece of roadway as is.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on December 16, 2016, 12:03:35 AM
LaDOTD is going roundabout crazy. They have proposals for several new roundabouts in northwest & north central Louisiana:

1. I accidentally happened upon a public open house the DOTD was hosting showing a proposal for installing not just 1...not just 2...but 4 roundabouts (back to back) on LA 544 in Ruston at I-20. The exit & entrance ramps get 2 and the Service roads get 2...along with a new overpass (the current overpass was built in 1959). I feel like 4 roundabouts in a row having to funnel all of that traffic may back traffic up big time from I-20 back to the LA Tech campus. I suggested a DDI instead.  :sombrero: I will patiently await a response from DOTD. They told me this was designed for traffic levels they project for the year 2039 in mind.

2. I-20 at LA 531 (exit 49)...both on & off ramps.

3. Well Rd. in West Monroe on the north side of I-20. Open house discussion on this will take place January 22, 2017 at a branch of the Ouachita Parish Library.

4. Just south of Homer, LA where LA 9, US 79, & US 79 NORTH TRUCK BYPASS (this road is signed with all 3 of these banners!) intersect at what is now a 1 year old 4-way stop that people still blow through without stopping. This place makes the most sense for a roundabout.

#1 above seems like the worst idea.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 18, 2017, 10:42:50 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on June 18, 2017, 11:17:37 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 18, 2017, 11:32:31 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north


iPhone

Sad day indeed.  :-( :-(
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: J N Winkler on June 18, 2017, 11:49:15 PM
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north

I had a look for it in StreetView and it is also gone, as of July 2016.  (I think I found its corpse (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.724407,-93.0699912,3a,43.6y,20.1h,78.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZV3YUuHz7rbBwomHsJ7byQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DZV3YUuHz7rbBwomHsJ7byQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D30.423737%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) in the grass on the right-of-way.)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on June 21, 2017, 11:22:57 PM
It's still there. I was in Natchitoches in May and saw it then.


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on June 22, 2017, 12:55:04 PM
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north

I had a look for it in StreetView and it is also gone, as of July 2016.  (I think I found its corpse (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.724407,-93.0699912,3a,43.6y,20.1h,78.36t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sZV3YUuHz7rbBwomHsJ7byQ!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DZV3YUuHz7rbBwomHsJ7byQ%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D30.423737%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656) in the grass on the right-of-way.)

It's still there in GSV. (https://www.google.com/maps/@31.7191978,-93.0668699,3a,75y,51.34h,74.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sIw3vZLAyGz7lZgMWCjc8cA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: J N Winkler on June 22, 2017, 03:27:25 PM
Thanks for setting me straight, and apologies for misleading--it had not occurred to me that an advance guide sign, such as the one that has the outline shield, might be posted further upstream of this flat intersection.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on July 17, 2017, 06:18:24 PM
Work has now started on the building of a new exit on I-20. It will be exit 83 at Tarbutton Rd. in Ruston.

A new Service Rd. extension has also started in Ruston. It is on the westbound side of I-20 and runs from the current-end of the existing road (North Service Rd. East) to the next overpass at Rough Edge Rd. There has been talk for almost 20 years about building a new exit for Rough Edge Rd. I believe it would be exit 89, and the talk was centered around making that exit serve as a way to get to the Ruston airport. If they did that, they would need a lot of trailblazer signs to guide people to the airport. Ruston's airport isn't served by any airline company...mostly just for business jets.

I accidentally put this on the wrong Louisiana page.

But I have heard that they will be building a new interchange at Rough Edge Rd. on the eastern edge of Ruston. It will be exit 89.

So that makes 5 exits (83 [the other new exit], 84, 85, 86, & [soon to be] 89) for a town of 20K people (more than that when the colleges are in session). Seem excessive?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: rte66man on July 18, 2017, 02:03:57 PM
Work has now started on the building of a new exit on I-20. It will be exit 83 at Tarbutton Rd. in Ruston.

A new Service Rd. extension has also started in Ruston. It is on the westbound side of I-20 and runs from the current-end of the existing road (North Service Rd. East) to the next overpass at Rough Edge Rd. There has been talk for almost 20 years about building a new exit for Rough Edge Rd. I believe it would be exit 89, and the talk was centered around making that exit serve as a way to get to the Ruston airport. If they did that, they would need a lot of trailblazer signs to guide people to the airport. Ruston's airport isn't served by any airline company...mostly just for business jets.

I accidentally put this on the wrong Louisiana page.

But I have heard that they will be building a new interchange at Rough Edge Rd. on the eastern edge of Ruston. It will be exit 89.

So that makes 5 exits (83 [the other new exit], 84, 85, 86, & [soon to be] 89) for a town of 20K people (more than that when the colleges are in session). Seem excessive?

Doesn't appear excessive based on the commercial development on Google Maps.  My question would be why was I-20 routed so close to downtown Ruston when it was first built?  I would have thought it would have swung farther north.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on July 18, 2017, 07:51:42 PM
Work has now started on the building of a new exit on I-20. It will be exit 83 at Tarbutton Rd. in Ruston.

A new Service Rd. extension has also started in Ruston. It is on the westbound side of I-20 and runs from the current-end of the existing road (North Service Rd. East) to the next overpass at Rough Edge Rd. There has been talk for almost 20 years about building a new exit for Rough Edge Rd. I believe it would be exit 89, and the talk was centered around making that exit serve as a way to get to the Ruston airport. If they did that, they would need a lot of trailblazer signs to guide people to the airport. Ruston's airport isn't served by any airline company...mostly just for business jets.

I accidentally put this on the wrong Louisiana page.

But I have heard that they will be building a new interchange at Rough Edge Rd. on the eastern edge of Ruston. It will be exit 89.

So that makes 5 exits (83 [the other new exit], 84, 85, 86, & [soon to be] 89) for a town of 20K people (more than that when the colleges are in session). Seem excessive?

Doesn't appear excessive based on the commercial development on Google Maps.  My question would be why was I-20 routed so close to downtown Ruston when it was first built?  I would have thought it would have swung farther north.

When that stretch of I-20 was built in 1957-1960, it was built well north of what was then downtown Ruston. The shopping center on the north side of I-20 (affectionately known as the "K-mart shopping center", originally named the Graham Shopping Center) was built in the early 80s. "Urban sprawl" has been going on hard & heavy since then.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: rte66man on July 19, 2017, 10:52:06 AM
Work has now started on the building of a new exit on I-20. It will be exit 83 at Tarbutton Rd. in Ruston.

A new Service Rd. extension has also started in Ruston. It is on the westbound side of I-20 and runs from the current-end of the existing road (North Service Rd. East) to the next overpass at Rough Edge Rd. There has been talk for almost 20 years about building a new exit for Rough Edge Rd. I believe it would be exit 89, and the talk was centered around making that exit serve as a way to get to the Ruston airport. If they did that, they would need a lot of trailblazer signs to guide people to the airport. Ruston's airport isn't served by any airline company...mostly just for business jets.

I accidentally put this on the wrong Louisiana page.

But I have heard that they will be building a new interchange at Rough Edge Rd. on the eastern edge of Ruston. It will be exit 89.

So that makes 5 exits (83 [the other new exit], 84, 85, 86, & [soon to be] 89) for a town of 20K people (more than that when the colleges are in session). Seem excessive?

Doesn't appear excessive based on the commercial development on Google Maps.  My question would be why was I-20 routed so close to downtown Ruston when it was first built?  I would have thought it would have swung farther north.

When that stretch of I-20 was built in 1957-1960, it was built well north of what was then downtown Ruston. The shopping center on the north side of I-20 (affectionately known as the "K-mart shopping center", originally named the Graham Shoppi g Center) was built in the early 80s. "Urban sprawl" has been going on hard & heavy since then.

I am used to interstates running miles from the city center (I-35 in OK comes to mind).  I-20 looks to be about one mile from what is labeled as "Downtown" in Ruston.  I was guessing that politics mandated where the road would run in LA.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on July 22, 2017, 08:42:34 PM
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=14457

I was unaware of the Calcasieu River bridge becoming a national historic site.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on August 17, 2017, 10:34:54 PM
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=14698

These are the top 5 priority projects in the state?  :hmmm:  :confused:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on August 18, 2017, 04:28:56 AM
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=14698

These are the top 5 priority projects in the state?  :hmmm:  :confused:

Ummm....no.

That's just the latest projects that came up for letting. The letting process only reflects the projects that are funded and call ready for bidding and construction.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on August 18, 2017, 07:20:05 AM
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=14698

These are the top 5 priority projects in the state?  :hmmm:  :confused:

Ummm....no.

That's just the latest projects that came up for letting. The letting process only reflects the projects that are funded and call ready for bidding and construction.


When I read this yesterday, I thought it said these were the top priorities in the state. I reread it this morning, and now I am interpreting it differently.

The only one I am familiar with is the US 71 railroad overpass. It is from the same era as the US 11 overpass over the NS in Slidell.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on September 16, 2017, 07:00:24 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north


iPhone

Sad day indeed.  :-( :-(

I would like to take this moment to apologize for any broken hearts I may have caused making this report a few months ago....because I was dead wrong! The outline LA 1 shield signs on both overpasses are indeed still up. I just drove through there an hour ago and saw them with my own eyes.

Again, I apologize for being so very wrong.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on October 11, 2017, 06:12:46 PM
Work has now started on the building of a new exit on I-20. It will be exit 83 at Tarbutton Rd. in Ruston.

A new Service Rd. extension has also started in Ruston. It is on the westbound side of I-20 and runs from the current-end of the existing road (North Service Rd. East) to the next overpass at Rough Edge Rd. There has been talk for almost 20 years about building a new exit for Rough Edge Rd. I believe it would be exit 89, and the talk was centered around making that exit serve as a way to get to the Ruston airport. If they did that, they would need a lot of trailblazer signs to guide people to the airport. Ruston's airport isn't served by any airline company...mostly just for business jets.

I accidentally put this on the wrong Louisiana page.

But I have heard that they will be building a new interchange at Rough Edge Rd. on the eastern edge of Ruston. It will be exit 89.

So that makes 5 exits (83 [the other new exit], 84, 85, 86, & [soon to be] 89) for a town of 20K people (more than that when the colleges are in session). Seem excessive?

Doesn't appear excessive based on the commercial development on Google Maps.  My question would be why was I-20 routed so close to downtown Ruston when it was first built?  I would have thought it would have swung farther north.

When that stretch of I-20 was built in 1957-1960, it was built well north of what was then downtown Ruston. The shopping center on the north side of I-20 (affectionately known as the "K-mart shopping center", originally named the Graham Shopping Center) was built in the early 80s. "Urban sprawl" has been going on hard & heavy since then.

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=15145
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on November 22, 2017, 11:36:57 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north


iPhone

Sad day indeed.  :-( :-(

I would like to take this moment to apologize for any broken hearts I may have caused making this report a few months ago....because I was dead wrong! The outline LA 1 shield signs on both overpasses are indeed still up. I just drove through there an hour ago and saw them with my own eyes.

Again, I apologize for being so very wrong.

But I did observe this past weekend that a lot of signage is being spiffed up in Louisiana. The US signs, especially, are generally becoming more uniform in size and shape.

Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on November 23, 2017, 04:05:11 AM
http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=14457

I was unaware of the Calcasieu River bridge becoming a national historic site.

Most if not all of the major bridges built during the Huey Long/Earl Long era in Louisiana have been designated as historical bridges. The Calcasieu River I-10 bridge is certainly old and rustic enough to qualify.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on November 26, 2017, 06:03:48 PM
I-49 between Alexandria and Natchitoches is getting signs replaced. The clearview font looks clean like most of Louisiana’s other versions; it isn’t too cluttered on the sign. Most of the new signs are smaller and don’t waste so much green space. (The best one being exit 107 Lena)

The only difference in content is exit 119. It now reads Cloutierville and Gorum. Not that anything is a really great choice on these rural exits. Most of the “towns”  are unincorporated and are lucky to even have a sign showing the destination.


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on November 26, 2017, 10:01:48 PM
I-49 between Alexandria and Natchitoches is getting signs replaced. The clearview font looks clean like most of Louisiana’s other versions; it isn’t too cluttered on the sign.

I saw some of those signs when I went up to Natchitoches a few weeks ago for a funeral. Glad to see that they are in Clearview, but I'm surprised since I thought Louisiana abandoned Clearview with the Jindal-Edwards transition almost 2 years ago.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 05, 2018, 08:51:16 PM
This is the largest parish route shield I have ever seen. Are there any this large anywhere else in the state?

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4607/39203569335_d3076f3ed0_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22Jhxke)20180205_115634 (https://flic.kr/p/22Jhxke) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 06, 2018, 02:16:17 PM
Is this Louisiana's 1st unisign? Established 12/2017.

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4705/39222092175_f42aee742b_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22KVtwx)Unisign in downtown Ruston. (https://flic.kr/p/22KVtwx) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr


(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4764/39222092225_48fdf8cb02_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/22KVtxp)Ruston's unisign up close. (https://flic.kr/p/22KVtxp) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on February 06, 2018, 09:53:06 PM
(https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3605/3526671261_5ef7252d40_z_d.jpg)

Baton Rouge 2009  ;)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 06, 2018, 10:07:40 PM
I figured an older one would have popped up somewhere.  :pan:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on February 06, 2018, 10:39:39 PM
I figured an older one would have popped up somewhere.  :pan:

Yours goes back to at least 2015, I think. I thought I had a photo of my own, but can't find it.

---
I am in error. No unisign in 2015
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on February 06, 2018, 10:48:51 PM
I just hate that it’s missing LA 146 with it


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 07, 2018, 06:13:18 AM
I just hate that it’s missing LA 146 with it


iPhone

LA 146 is never shown love at this intersection. When the previous individual-sign assembly was established (2005 maybe?), LA 146 was ignored then as well. However, the JCT-assembly west of Monroe St. was put up at the same time listing LA 146.

The concurrency itself is well signed until the intersection of S. Trenton & W. California where US 80 & LA 146 leave US 167. That intersection has never had all of the proper signage.

On I-20, the BGSs for exit 85 have never shown the concurrency.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on February 07, 2018, 10:41:11 AM
I just hate that it’s missing LA 146 with it


iPhone

LA 146 is never shown love at this intersection. When the previous individual-sign assembly was established (2005 maybe?), LA 146 was ignored then as well. However, the JCT-assembly west of Monroe St. was put up at the same time listing LA 146.

The concurrency itself is well signed until the intersection of S. Trenton & W. California where US 80 & LA 146 leave US 167. That intersection has never had all of the proper signage.

On I-20, the BGSs for exit 85 have never shown the concurrency.

I've always wished exit 85 showed LA 146 and had a little more long range cities. Ruston is big enough to know you're in Ruston at exit 85. Maybe show Jonesboro and ElDorado. And if LA 146 isn't being shown there, I can't imagine DOTD is rushing to put US 63 north on there anytime soon either
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 07, 2018, 09:37:43 PM
I just hate that it’s missing LA 146 with it


iPhone

LA 146 is never shown love at this intersection. When the previous individual-sign assembly was established (2005 maybe?), LA 146 was ignored then as well. However, the JCT-assembly west of Monroe St. was put up at the same time listing LA 146.

The concurrency itself is well signed until the intersection of S. Trenton & W. California where US 80 & LA 146 leave US 167. That intersection has never had all of the proper signage.

On I-20, the BGSs for exit 85 have never shown the concurrency.

I've always wished exit 85 showed LA 146 and had a little more long range cities. Ruston is big enough to know you're in Ruston at exit 85. Maybe show Jonesboro and ElDorado. And if LA 146 isn't being shown there, I can't imagine DOTD is rushing to put US 63 north on there anytime soon either

You & I think very much alike here.

If a town has signs on the interstate that say "Wherever, USA next xx exits", then it should be ok to not list that town on the BGSs in that town. I-20 is almost 60 years old in Ruston. DOTD hasn't shown LA 146 yet...so US 63 could be 100 years from being shown on any BGS.

With the new Tarbutton Rd interchange (future exit 83) coming along well, DOTD should really consider overhead BGSs with Ruston's exits. That would help give motorists a 1 mile heads up of the next exit in Ruston.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on February 08, 2018, 06:41:22 PM
They’ll have to change that “Ruston next 3 exits”  sign too. Like when West Monroe added the Downing Pines Exit


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 08, 2018, 09:03:58 PM
They’ll have to change that “Ruston next 3 exits”  sign too. Like when West Monroe added the Downing Pines Exit


iPhone

This & relocate the sign west of town further west. The current one is located close to the new Tarbutton ramp.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on February 08, 2018, 09:59:28 PM
Cosign on this one.

Louisiana is kinda weird regarding signing interchanges through cities.

On I-10, when they added the Louisiana Avenue interchange in Lafayette, they also revised the I-49/US 167 BGS's for the exits for 167 South (Future I-49 South) to read "Morgan City" rather than "Lafayette". You'd think they would have used "Downtown Lafayette" and left "Morgan City" for a secondary reassurance sign.

However...on I-49 through Opelousas, they have the "Opelousas NEXT 3 INTERCHANGES" signs up, but they still have the US 190 West BGS labeled as "Opelousas" rather than "Downtown".

Some consistency would be nice, LADOTD.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 08, 2018, 10:16:44 PM
Cosign on this one.

Louisiana is kinda weird regarding signing interchanges through cities.

On I-10, when they added the Louisiana Avenue interchange in Lafayette, they also revised the I-49/US 167 BGS's for the exits for 167 South (Future I-49 South) to read "Morgan City" rather than "Lafayette". You'd think they would have used "Downtown Lafayette" and left "Morgan City" for a secondary reassurance sign.

However...on I-49 through Opelousas, they have the "Opelousas NEXT 3 INTERCHANGES" signs up, but they still have the US 190 West BGS labeled as "Opelousas" rather than "Downtown".

Some consistency would be nice, LADOTD.

This is how DOTD decided to sign "Downtown Monroe": https://www.google.com/maps/@32.4962413,-92.1158093,0a,75y,73.16h,88.73t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sX8i_7l8kUgiahhEP8aV6Sg!2e0

They could put a similar sign at exit 85 in Ruston and use different control points (why not list 3?). Then put all three shields of the concurrency. For exit 86, remove "Ruston" and replace it with "Marion". (Farmerville is 21 miles north, Marion is 35 miles north)

I kinda like that DOTD put Morgan City on the BGS instead of downtown. Did they at least put a secondary sign for downtown like they did in Monroe?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: mgk920 on February 11, 2018, 11:50:33 PM
I was wondering, after watching a Big Rig Steve video a few days ago, does LADOTD have any near-term plans to rebuild I-20 through Shreveport?

*YOWSAH!!!*   :-o

Mike
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 12, 2018, 05:53:51 PM
I was wondering, after watching a Big Rig Steve video a few days ago, does LADOTD have any near-term plans to rebuild I-20 through Shreveport?

*YOWSAH!!!*   :-o

Mike

My money is on the "no" vote. I haven't heard of anything near- or long-term concerning I-20. The only thing that comes close to "near-term" involves the I-49 ICC, I-49/I-220 (in progress), and the possible twinning of the Jimmie Davis bridge over the Red River.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: UptownRoadGeek on February 17, 2018, 11:55:42 AM
Question: Has Clearview been abandoned or not? I've seen signs going up in New Orleans that are FHWA recently, but then I've seen Clearview going up elsewhere.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: MNHighwayMan on February 17, 2018, 01:40:13 PM
Question: Has Clearview been abandoned or not? I've seen signs going up in New Orleans that are FHWA recently, but then I've seen Clearview going up elsewhere.

The interim approval from the FHWA has been revoked, so unless those signs were approved and laid out before then, there shouldn't be any new Clearview signs being put up.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 18, 2018, 10:28:24 AM
Question: Has Clearview been abandoned or not? I've seen signs going up in New Orleans that are FHWA recently, but then I've seen Clearview going up elsewhere.

The interim approval from the FHWA has been revoked, so unless those signs were approved and laid out before then, there shouldn't be any new Clearview signs being put up.

A new sign at the Grambling exit on I-20 (a panel sign from the 90s destroyed by an 18-wheeler replaced by an extruded sheet sign) is in FHWA font. New signage from a repave project between the Ada/Taylor exit & exit 47 were also done FHWA style.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jasonh300 on February 18, 2018, 11:20:18 AM
Question: Has Clearview been abandoned or not? I've seen signs going up in New Orleans that are FHWA recently, but then I've seen Clearview going up elsewhere.

The interim approval from the FHWA has been revoked, so unless those signs were approved and laid out before then, there shouldn't be any new Clearview signs being put up.

Louisiana must've gotten on the ball and made up a bunch of new Clearview signs, but never got around to putting them up.  Literally 30 days before the FHWA revocation of Clearview, new Clearview signs went up all around the New Orleans area.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: UptownRoadGeek on March 26, 2018, 05:54:35 PM
Another thing I've noticed this year, particularly in the New Orleans area. I can think of at least 3 places where overhead pantries and pull through signs have come down (or were never finished being installed) and been replaced with the GDOT style side post mounted guide sign. The difference however, is that the LaDOTD signage is scaled down significantly compared the original signage and is hard to read until you're up close. These have replaced pull throughs at the split from the 310 northbound to the I-10, and on the I-10 eastbound approaching Loyola Dr. There are some in each direction of the Twin Span as well where the trusses were never installed into the supports to complete the gantries. I recall seeing this in Baton Rouge as well, but I don't remember where.

Anybody know what the deal is?

(https://68.media.tumblr.com/772fb279dddd6358b20ec48a95bc1964/tumblr_p682h7PL5O1qhvr1so1_1280.jpg)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Bobby5280 on March 26, 2018, 09:40:55 PM
Pretty easy answer to that question: LaDOTD is doing some things on the cheap, like that US-11 exit sign. That's just a face-palm of a sign. They might as well have just used a US-11 shield, an arrow and nothing when using a sign panel that small.

Meanwhile here in Oklahoma both OTA and ODOT have ditched Clearview, but they're still goofing up sign layouts, not following MUTCD specs correctly, much less even matching up sign legends with green panel sizes and shapes to hold the message properly. That helps prove a point I've made previously that the type family utilized on a sign layout has very little to do with someone composing a traffic sign design correctly. Now we have a growing collection of face-palm layouts set in both Series Gothic and Clearview.

The FHWA needs to delete the verbiage from the MUTCD about sign fonts featuring lowercase characters with an x-height at least 75% the size of cap letter M-height. Last time I looked the MUTCD didn't feature that critical "at least" part in the verbiage. Too many people creating traffic signs here in Oklahoma totally misunderstand the specification. They scale the lowercase letters down to 75% of their original size. The end result is stuff like this example at Exit 1 of I-44: https://goo.gl/8Wtnhy (https://goo.gl/8Wtnhy). Great big capital letters and really tiny lowercase characters. Most of the new neighborhood street name signs in Lawton have the same problem.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: UptownRoadGeek on March 27, 2018, 09:28:30 PM
Pretty easy answer to that question: LaDOTD is doing some things on the cheap, like that US-11 exit sign. That's just a face-palm of a sign. They might as well have just used a US-11 shield, an arrow and nothing when using a sign panel that small.

Here's another example taken from the Eastern Louisiana thread.

(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2854/34063137075_e1a2d9461b_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/TU3tUP)
I-10 Westbound approaching I-110 2 (https://flic.kr/p/TU3tUP) by Jay Bienvenu (https://www.flickr.com/photos/bienvenunet/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Bobby5280 on March 30, 2018, 03:52:24 PM
I'm going to guess that sign "solution" in at the I-10 & I-110 split in Baton Rouge might be temporary. Hopefully. That particular sign structure formerly had large overhead sign panels on it. Google Maps' street view imagery dated between 2011 and 2016 shows the previous sign. Maybe it was damaged in a storm or something.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 24, 2018, 09:56:52 AM
DOTD is moving ahead with the I-20/220 Barksdale AFB interchange:

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=17130
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Stephane Dumas on June 24, 2018, 10:22:20 AM
DOTD is moving ahead with the I-20/220 Barksdale AFB interchange:

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=17130

I wonder if it could be part of a bigger long-range plan to extend I-220 to the proposed I-69?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 24, 2018, 11:19:57 AM
DOTD is moving ahead with the I-20/220 Barksdale AFB interchange:

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=17130

I wonder if it could be part of a bigger long-range plan to extend I-220 to the proposed I-69?

Barksdale has always been opposed to having the highway come through the base itself.  This really is just the building of a new "main gate". The current main gate is on US 71 south. The mainline of KCS's Alexandria Sub runs right in front of it. Across from it is the intersection of LA 3032 (Shreveport-Barksdale Hwy). Put a slow drag freight in front of this gate and you have a decent traffic snarl that takes place.

https://www.google.com/maps/@32.4980914,-93.69072,0a,75y,51.48h,89.87t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sbNRm2ZF6SEWv7dwBVFgI6Q!2e0
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on October 04, 2018, 12:25:40 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north


iPhone

Sad day indeed.  :-( :-(

I would like to take this moment to apologize for any broken hearts I may have caused making this report a few months ago....because I was dead wrong! The outline LA 1 shield signs on both overpasses are indeed still up. I just drove through there an hour ago and saw them with my own eyes.

Again, I apologize for being so very wrong.

I regret to pass this along, but the old state outline signs at the N. Market St/I-220 interchange have now been replaced. Here is the sad proof:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1945/31225020478_2caf44f876.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoJ3)Old state outline signs replaced at N. Market St. (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoJ3) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr



(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1975/31225020408_343e094d78.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoGQ)Old state outline signs replaced at N Market St. (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoGQ) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr[url=


And now only 3 remain.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on November 08, 2018, 11:52:38 AM
State Sen. Norby Chabert comments on Louisiana's highway network:
https://twitter.com/NorbNolty/status/1060575113303785472
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: sparker on November 08, 2018, 05:50:16 PM
State Sen. Norby Chabert comments on Louisiana's highway network:
https://twitter.com/NorbNolty/status/1060575113303785472

Is that the same Norby Chabert who got into a bar brawl with another legislator over disagreements about a bill a few months back? (that incident made it out here over Google and Bing newsfeeds!).  Apparently he's the one who landed the most punches -- nice guy; a role model for all!   :rolleyes: 
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on November 08, 2018, 07:06:34 PM
Is that the same Norby Chabert who (blah blah blah)

Thanks for your constructive contributions.  :rolleyes:
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on December 08, 2018, 07:30:56 PM
In case you may be curious:  http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=18373
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on December 08, 2018, 07:41:15 PM
In case you may be curious:  http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=18373

I doubt I can make it but if I could, I'd make sure to bring up two words: Interstate 14.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on December 08, 2018, 07:46:56 PM
In case you may be curious:  http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=18373

I doubt I can make it but if I could, I'd make sure to bring up two words: Interstate 14.

As a possible place to start Louisiana's part of I-14?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on December 08, 2018, 08:02:41 PM
If both states are serious about I-14, then they should definitely stat planning early on for the Sabine River crossing. They definitely don't want to spend a lot of money replacing the bridge only to have to build an entirely separate bridge for I-14. It also presents an opportunity to plan a corridor between Jasper and Leesville that will hold the interstate (and perhaps some precursor of it as a realignment of TX-63 and LA-8).
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on December 08, 2018, 08:12:16 PM
If both states are serious about I-14, then they should definitely stat planning early on for the Sabine River crossing. They definitely don't want to spend a lot of money replacing the bridge only to have to build an entirely separate bridge for I-14. It also presents an opportunity to plan a corridor between Jasper and Leesville that will hold the interstate (and perhaps some precursor of it as a realignment of TX-63 and LA-8).

I was just looking at Google maps for a possible routing in that area. It looks like they will need to run the new route north of the old Sabine River bridge so as to avoid the Clear Creek WMA, continue arcing northward to avoid downtown Leesvile & Ft. Polk. There really won't be a great way to avoid that piece of Kisatchie NF on the way to Alexandria.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 16, 2019, 09:47:47 PM
Another outline shield BGS falls. Now only 2 remain, both on I-20 west bound for exit 21.


(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7923/32176482317_fce5178237.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/R2jTbv)Another Louisiana outline shield falls. (https://flic.kr/p/R2jTbv) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on February 18, 2019, 10:43:10 AM
"By - PASS"  :rolleyes:
Title: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on February 19, 2019, 12:26:34 AM
Apparently Louisiana likes the hyphenated by-pass. Although it isn’t always mixed upper and lowercase

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190220/20ff9be3314acc8d2b88cc8a5cc3faa9.jpg)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on February 19, 2019, 10:01:26 AM
Apparently someone at DOTD likes the hyphenated "by-pass." Some of us prefer consistency.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on February 19, 2019, 10:56:04 AM
Apparently someone at DOTD likes the hyphenated "by-pass." Some of us prefer consistency.

So does Arkansas. Also Oklahoma.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 19, 2019, 07:00:08 PM
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.5421396,-93.6022188,3a,75y,261.71h,76.05t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5Q8v7b2QbiGPGCinvtU0ug!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

DOTD can make all caps by-pass signs too. These for I-220 are older than the one in Natchitoches.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on February 19, 2019, 07:04:00 PM
The point is that quality control isn't a DOTD strong suit.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on February 19, 2019, 07:06:08 PM
The point is that quality control isn't a DOTD strong suit.

No arguments here. I agree.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on June 09, 2020, 12:24:48 PM
DOTD just shared this photo on Facebook of current progress on the extension of I-220 in Bossier City into Barksdale AFB.




(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200609/2e356d66e4c3970aedf7e1ca49f2613f.jpg)


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 09, 2020, 02:26:15 PM
Louisiana has lost 2 more outline state shield signs. The 2 hanging over US 71/LA 1 at I-220 have been replaced with extruded panel signs & white LA 1 shields.
NOOO! Only one left that I know of. LA 1 bypass BGS as you approach Natchitoches on LA 1 north


iPhone

Sad day indeed.  :-( :-(

I would like to take this moment to apologize for any broken hearts I may have caused making this report a few months ago....because I was dead wrong! The outline LA 1 shield signs on both overpasses are indeed still up. I just drove through there an hour ago and saw them with my own eyes.

Again, I apologize for being so very wrong.

I regret to pass this along, but the old state outline signs at the N. Market St/I-220 interchange have now been replaced. Here is the sad proof:

(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1945/31225020478_2caf44f876.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoJ3)Old state outline signs replaced at N. Market St. (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoJ3) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr



(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1975/31225020408_343e094d78.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoGQ)Old state outline signs replaced at N Market St. (https://flic.kr/p/PzfoGQ) by Jess Kilgore (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130771900@N08/), on Flickr

And then, there was only 1.

The exit sign with the outline shield for LA 72 (Old Minden Rd.) at the exit ramp has been removed. This is another victim of aging overhead trusses that DOTD have been taking down.

So now there is only 1 outline shield left. It is on I-20 WB just past the Industrial Dr. exit. It is the first exit sign for Old Minden Rd...and it is still center tabbed too! (http://And now only 3 remain.

[/quote)
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on June 09, 2020, 03:23:16 PM
Those links are coming up as errors.
 
There were a couple older non-white shields last time I was in town. Are any of them left?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 09, 2020, 05:26:19 PM
I don't know what I did or how I did that, but there are no links to look at in the body of the message.

Are you referring to the outline shields when you say "non-white" shields? If so, that is what I am referring to.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: US71 on June 09, 2020, 05:28:42 PM
I don't know what I did or how I did that, but there are no links to look at in the body of the message.

Are you referring to the outline shields when you say "non-white" shields? If so, that is what I am referring to.

Yeah, OK.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: r15-1 on June 29, 2020, 04:56:15 PM
They’ll have to change that “Ruston next 3 exits”  sign too. Like when West Monroe added the Downing Pines Exit


iPhone

This & relocate the sign west of town further west. The current one is located close to the new Tarbutton ramp.
The new Tarbutton Road interchange (Exit 83) was fully opened to traffic last Thursday.

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=23570
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on June 29, 2020, 10:34:53 PM
They’ll have to change that “Ruston next 3 exits”  sign too. Like when West Monroe added the Downing Pines Exit


iPhone

This & relocate the sign west of town further west. The current one is located close to the new Tarbutton ramp.
The new Tarbutton Road interchange (Exit 83) was fully opened to traffic last Thursday.

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=23570

The ramps are open, yes. Buuuuuuuuuuuutttttt..........

About a month before the ramps were opened, the BGSs were put up. But one week before opening the ramps, all 6 BGSs were taken down. Today, one week after opening the ramps, the contractors were taking down one sign post from all 6 locations and digging up the steel mounting base belonging to the post they took down. I have no idea what has happened to make them do all of this.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on July 03, 2020, 12:32:34 PM
Making it match the schemetics. EXACTLY. Even if the schemetic is wrong.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on July 11, 2020, 12:15:27 PM
The BGSs for the Tarbutton Rd interchange have now been reinstalled. At all 6 locations, the post furthest from the roadway was "reset". Now it looks as though those posts are leaning to avoid hitting a brace on the back side of the exit tab. smh

Now there is another issue I have with one of the BGSs and where it is located. In the westbound lanes, there is a 2-mile advance BGS for Tarbutton Rd (exit 83) just past the gore area for exit 85 (US 167). Behind the 2-mile advance sign, mounted on the overpass, is a 3/4-mile advance BGS for exit 84 (LA 544).

IMO, this 2-mile advance sign needs to be moved to the east bound lanes in between the Grambling on-ramp and EB lanes gore area. That would be much better. Also, Ruston just needs a complete over haul of ALL of its BGSs, putting them all on overhead gantries with updates on the information on some of the signs.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on August 31, 2020, 05:34:18 AM
While driving through Bossier City & Shreveport on I-220 yesterday, I noticed that all of the directional signs and LGSs at the interchanges on the Bossier side have all been changed. They used to list Dallas for the west bound I-220 signs. They now read "Texarkana". The LGSs that were changed now have state-named shields instead of neutered.

Interesting fact: when the I-20/I-220 interchange was born in the mid 70s, the BGSs for the westbound approach to the I-220 interchange at exit 26 listed Texarkana as the lone control city. They were replaced in the 90s with BGSs that removed Texarkana and replaced it with BYPASS.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on August 31, 2020, 10:59:22 AM
While driving through Bossier City & Shreveport on I-220 yesterday, I noticed that all of the directional signs and LGSs at the interchanges on the Bossier side have all been changed. They used to list Dallas for the west bound I-220 signs. They now read "Texarkana". The LGSs that were changed now have state-named shields instead of neutered.

Interesting fact: when the I-20/I-220 interchange was born in the mid 70s, the BGSs for the westbound approach to the I-220 interchange at exit 26 listed Texarkana as the lone control city. They were replaced in the 90s with BGSs that removed Texarkana and replaced it with BYPASS.

No that is By-PASS LOL....
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on August 31, 2020, 02:52:28 PM
While driving through Bossier City & Shreveport on I-220 yesterday, I noticed that all of the directional signs and LGSs at the interchanges on the Bossier side have all been changed. They used to list Dallas for the west bound I-220 signs. They now read "Texarkana". The LGSs that were changed now have state-named shields instead of neutered.

Interesting fact: when the I-20/I-220 interchange was born in the mid 70s, the BGSs for the westbound approach to the I-220 interchange at exit 26 listed Texarkana as the lone control city. They were replaced in the 90s with BGSs that removed Texarkana and replaced it with BYPASS.

Yes, partially because the By-pass didn't bypass until the very late 80's.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on August 31, 2020, 03:08:38 PM
While driving through Bossier City & Shreveport on I-220 yesterday, I noticed that all of the directional signs and LGSs at the interchanges on the Bossier side have all been changed. They used to list Dallas for the west bound I-220 signs. They now read "Texarkana". The LGSs that were changed now have state-named shields instead of neutered.

Interesting fact: when the I-20/I-220 interchange was born in the mid 70s, the BGSs for the westbound approach to the I-220 interchange at exit 26 listed Texarkana as the lone control city. They were replaced in the 90s with BGSs that removed Texarkana and replaced it with BYPASS.

Yes, partially because the By-pass didn't bypass until the very late 80's.

Here is a wild prediction: when the BAFB interchange is complete, the new BGSs for exit 26 will have both BAFB & Texarkana listed on them.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: STLmapboy on November 14, 2020, 02:28:44 PM
Random question: Is two lanes really adequate for I-20 in Bossier City?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on November 14, 2020, 08:49:24 PM
Random question: Is two lanes really adequate for I-20 in Bossier City?
I’m kind of surprised it’s never been 3. The 3 lanes extend west of I-220 on the Shreveport side by a couple of miles.


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on November 14, 2020, 10:42:29 PM
No two in Bossier is not enough. The problem is the real choke point is the Red River bridge and it is not going to be replaced any time in the immediate future. So widening I-20 will not fix the problem.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on November 15, 2020, 12:16:29 AM
No two in Bossier is not enough. The problem is the real choke point is the Red River bridge and it is not going to be replaced any time in the immediate future. So widening I-20 will not fix the problem.
The bridge over the river actually has 6. It’s the lane drop at LA 1 in downtown Shreveport.


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on November 15, 2020, 01:33:23 PM
The portion of I-20 east of "the Bossier Crossroads" was one of the last portions opened (mid 70s). There was absolutely nothing out there, so at that time 2 lanes were plenty. In fact they could barely afford to build that part of I-20 back then. That's why all of that are is only 2 lanes. It definitely is not enough now. It really needs to be six-laned all the way to Haughton.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Great Lakes Roads on November 26, 2020, 03:08:12 AM
Some good news for people who drive on I-10 from Texas into Louisiana: the last 10 miles of widening in Calcasieu Parish will be completed in 2025... as part of this project, 10 bridges will be replaced and widened as well as rebuilding the weigh-in-motion on I-10 eastbound. The project is estimated at $152 million.

To maintain two lanes of traffic, the project is broken up into three separate segments, the first segment being from the state line to LA 109.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/louisiana-dotd-provides-updates-on-two-big-interstate-10-projects/50492
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on November 26, 2020, 09:25:20 AM
Some good news for people who drive on I-10 from Texas into Louisiana: the last 10 miles of widening in Calcasieu Parish will be completed in 2025... as part of this project, 10 bridges will be replaced and widened as well as rebuilding the weigh-in-motion on I-10 eastbound. The project is estimated at $152 million.

To maintain two lanes of traffic, the project is broken up into three separate segments, the first segment being from the state line to LA 109.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/louisiana-dotd-provides-updates-on-two-big-interstate-10-projects/50492

Ummm....isn't I-10 within the I-210 junctions in Lake Charles, including the Calcasieu River Bridge, still 4 lanes?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Urban Prairie Schooner on December 18, 2020, 10:00:05 PM
Apparent progress toward the replacement of the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge: http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=25419

Project website www.i10lakecharles.com
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: CoreySamson on December 18, 2020, 10:36:47 PM
Some good news for people who drive on I-10 from Texas into Louisiana: the last 10 miles of widening in Calcasieu Parish will be completed in 2025... as part of this project, 10 bridges will be replaced and widened as well as rebuilding the weigh-in-motion on I-10 eastbound. The project is estimated at $152 million.

To maintain two lanes of traffic, the project is broken up into three separate segments, the first segment being from the state line to LA 109.

https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/louisiana-dotd-provides-updates-on-two-big-interstate-10-projects/50492

Ummm....isn't I-10 within the I-210 junctions in Lake Charles, including the Calcasieu River Bridge, still 4 lanes?
Apparent progress toward the replacement of the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge: http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=25419

Project website www.i10lakecharles.com
The video on the main website suggests 10 will be 3-laned through Lake Charles. I think it's about time to fix the area. That bridge has been through a lot.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Plutonic Panda on August 23, 2021, 06:48:24 PM
Update on the I-10 expansion to six lanes from the Texas state line for 10.5 miles East:

Quote
About one year into a $152 million Louisiana I-10 widening project, contractors are preparing the site for the replacement of the longest bridge on the project.

The major I-10 project runs from the Texas state line to east of Vinton, La., and will widen 10.5 mi. of I-10 from four to six lanes. There are currently two lanes in each direction, which will be expanded to three.

Quote
Johnson Brothers Corporation crews began work on the segment from the state line to U.S. 90/LA109 in September 2020. While the work was initially hampered by two hurricanes in the fall, and COVID, which caused delays in the staffing and the shipping of materials, the construction schedule is on target with segment one completion set for 2022 and the entire project completion in 2025.

Once complete, the project will tie into a widening project completed in 2007 from Vinton to Sulphur and create a continuous six-lane interstate from the state line to the west I-210 interchange.

The project includes the widening and/or replacement of 10 bridges for a total of 2,120 ft. The longest is the Sabine River Relief Bridge at 780 ft. or 1,560 ft. in both directions; the shortest, at Gum Gully, is 120 ft.

Read more here: https://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/johnson-brothers-crew-widens-louisianas-i-10-freight-corridor/53568
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on May 20, 2022, 10:31:05 PM
I went to Shreveport today for the first time in forever. The I-20/I-220 east end interchange expansion south is coming along nicely with new overhead BGSs. The new road going south to the new Barksdale AFB entrance now has a name:  LA 1267.

Also, new approach BGSs have been installed on I-20 for the interchange. Barksdale and LA 1267 aren't listed, but the I-220 control point is no longer BY-PASS. It is now listed...once again after 25 years or so...as Texarkana.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on May 24, 2022, 07:47:31 PM
I went to Shreveport today for the first time in forever. The I-20/I-220 east end interchange expansion south is coming along nicely with new overhead BGSs. The new road going south to the new Barksdale AFB entrance now has a name:  LA 1267.

Also, new approach BGSs have been installed on I-20 for the interchange. Barksdale and LA 1267 aren't listed, but the I-220 control point is no longer BY-PASS. It is now listed...once again after 25 years or so...as Texarkana.
I remember Texarkana being on I-220 at that exit. I bet they made it more consistent now that the on ramps from interchanges on I-220 E and W leading to I-49 now show Texarkana.

So is 1267 shown on I-220 as a through highway as I-220 approaches I-20 beyond E Texas St/Racetrack exit?


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on May 27, 2022, 09:06:32 PM
I went to Shreveport today for the first time in forever. The I-20/I-220 east end interchange expansion south is coming along nicely with new overhead BGSs. The new road going south to the new Barksdale AFB entrance now has a name:  LA 1267.

Also, new approach BGSs have been installed on I-20 for the interchange. Barksdale and LA 1267 aren't listed, but the I-220 control point is no longer BY-PASS. It is now listed...once again after 25 years or so...as Texarkana.
I remember Texarkana being on I-220 at that exit. I bet they made it more consistent now that the on ramps from interchanges on I-220 E and W leading to I-49 now show Texarkana.

Me too. I was confused as to why they changed it from Texarkana...listed on the overheads for US 71/LA 1 NORTH exit...to just BY-PASS. In fact, there is still one older overhead sign approaching the US 71/LA 1 NORTH exit on I-220 WB listing Texarkana still in place. Otherwise, all of the new overhead BGSs list the exits (7A & 7B) as North Market Street.

Quote
So is 1267 shown on I-220 as a through highway as I-220 approaches I-20 beyond E Texas St/Racetrack exit?

Not yet. I looked back when I got on I-20 EB and saw the new overhead BGS over the new C/D lane on the WB side. I'm sure those signs will be going up sometime this summer. 

It is so weird to see some of the jersey barrier that has been in place since day 1 of the existence of I-220 gone now.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on May 28, 2022, 04:42:01 PM
I went to Shreveport today for the first time in forever. The I-20/I-220 east end interchange expansion south is coming along nicely with new overhead BGSs. The new road going south to the new Barksdale AFB entrance now has a name:  LA 1267.

Also, new approach BGSs have been installed on I-20 for the interchange. Barksdale and LA 1267 aren't listed, but the I-220 control point is no longer BY-PASS. It is now listed...once again after 25 years or so...as Texarkana.
I remember Texarkana being on I-220 at that exit. I bet they made it more consistent now that the on ramps from interchanges on I-220 E and W leading to I-49 now show Texarkana.

Me too. I was confused as to why they changed it from Texarkana...listed on the overheads for US 71/LA 1 NORTH exit...to just BY-PASS. In fact, there is still one older overhead sign approaching the US 71/LA 1 NORTH exit on I-220 WB listing Texarkana still in place. Otherwise, all of the new overhead BGSs list the exits (7A & 7B) as North Market Street.

Quote
So is 1267 shown on I-220 as a through highway as I-220 approaches I-20 beyond E Texas St/Racetrack exit?

Not yet. I looked back when I got on I-20 EB and saw the new overhead BGS over the new C/D lane on the WB side. I'm sure those signs will be going up sometime this summer. 

It is so weird to see some of the jersey barrier that has been in place since day 1 of the existence of I-220 gone now.

Shreveport has a weird notation. US-71 north of downtown is "NORTH Market Street". South of downtown it is simply MARKET Street.
So there should be North Market NB and North Market SB exits from I-220. As to NB it still goes to Texarkana. It may be because US-71 back in dinosaur days or its predecessor (SH-55) followed Grimmett Drive and the T&P railway out from downtown. Originally it followed what is Shreveport Dixie Hwy back in the thirties (former SH-55). Later it followed Old Mooringsport to the current route by the mid-fifties US-71 and LA-1 were on their current alignments north of downtown,  :
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on June 05, 2022, 10:37:37 PM
I went to Shreveport today for the first time in forever. The I-20/I-220 east end interchange expansion south is coming along nicely with new overhead BGSs. The new road going south to the new Barksdale AFB entrance now has a name:  LA 1267.

Also, new approach BGSs have been installed on I-20 for the interchange. Barksdale and LA 1267 aren't listed, but the I-220 control point is no longer BY-PASS. It is now listed...once again after 25 years or so...as Texarkana.
I remember Texarkana being on I-220 at that exit. I bet they made it more consistent now that the on ramps from interchanges on I-220 E and W leading to I-49 now show Texarkana.

Me too. I was confused as to why they changed it from Texarkana...listed on the overheads for US 71/LA 1 NORTH exit...to just BY-PASS. In fact, there is still one older overhead sign approaching the US 71/LA 1 NORTH exit on I-220 WB listing Texarkana still in place. Otherwise, all of the new overhead BGSs list the exits (7A & 7B) as North Market Street.

Quote
So is 1267 shown on I-220 as a through highway as I-220 approaches I-20 beyond E Texas St/Racetrack exit?

Not yet. I looked back when I got on I-20 EB and saw the new overhead BGS over the new C/D lane on the WB side. I'm sure those signs will be going up sometime this summer. 

It is so weird to see some of the jersey barrier that has been in place since day 1 of the existence of I-220 gone now.

Shreveport has a weird notation. US-71 north of downtown is "NORTH Market Street". South of downtown it is simply MARKET Street.
So there should be North Market NB and North Market SB exits. As to NB it still goes to Texarkana. It may be that US-71 back in dinosaur days US-71 or its SH predecessor followed Grimmett Drive out from downtown. Originally it followed what is SHreveport Dixie HWy. Later it followed Old Mooringsport to the current route :
Are you talking about at the I-220 interchange? It previously had control cities for Shreveport going south on 71/1 and Texarkana going north. But since I-49 is the preferred route to Texarkana, the new signs reflect the street name: North Market St.

The reason I believe there is a North Market but not a South, is that Market St was extended to the south to connect to the highland neighborhoods of Shreveport. I believe the area north of Cross Bayou (zero-100 block of Market) was a separate town at one point, Agurs. Once it was incorporated as Shreveport the street name was extended as North Market with block numbers growing from zero northbound from Market.


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on July 09, 2022, 11:47:29 PM
Apparent progress toward the replacement of the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge: http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=25419

Project website www.i10lakecharles.com

Funding is proposed by the legislature:
There is some new TIMED funding  for this project SB277 was passed as ACT 505 of 2022. The I-10 bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles and finishing I-49 to New Orleans. http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=22RS&b=SB277&sbi=y
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: MikieTimT on July 11, 2022, 03:19:36 PM
Apparent progress toward the replacement of the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge: http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=25419

Project website www.i10lakecharles.com

Funding is proposed by the legislature:
There is some new TIMED funding  for this project SB277 was passed as ACT 505 of 2022. The I-10 bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles and finishing I-49 to New Orleans. http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=22RS&b=SB277&sbi=y

Looks like up to $160M per year split evenly between I-49 North, I-49 South, I-10 Lake Charles, and I-10 Baton Rouge, with the any completed project's portion being split evenly among the remaining projects going forward.  It would be nice to know how much money results from 75% of the tax collected in Louisiana that results in "the sale, use, or lease of motor vehicles that are taxable pursuant to Chapters 2, 2-A, and 2-B of Subtitle II of Title 47 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, provided for in R.S. 48:77(A)" to know how close it is to the $160M annual cap.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: rlb2024 on July 11, 2022, 03:53:07 PM
Apparent progress toward the replacement of the I-10 Calcasieu River bridge: http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=25419

Project website www.i10lakecharles.com

Funding is proposed by the legislature:
There is some new TIMED funding  for this project SB277 was passed as ACT 505 of 2022. The I-10 bridges in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles and finishing I-49 to New Orleans. http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=22RS&b=SB277&sbi=y
Call me a pessimist, but I'll believe it when I see it.  The TIMED funding started around 1989, and one of the projects in our area (LA 3241) just got started about a year ago.  Yeah, I know there were permitting and wetlands issues as well as something called Katrina, but still it took over 30 years to start construction . . .
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on July 12, 2022, 09:19:16 AM
Looks like up to $160M per year split evenly between I-49 North, I-49 South, I-10 Lake Charles, and I-10 Baton Rouge...

One of these is not like the others.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on November 07, 2022, 12:32:45 PM
Looks like US 167 and LA 182 have been rerouted around Lafayette.

Evangeline Thruway south of I-10 no longer carries US 167, but does carry LA 182. I only went as far as Kaliste Saloom Rd., but I expect that LA 182 now stays on Evangeline Thruway all the way to the interchange in Broussard.

As for US 167, it apparently now comes down LA 3184 to Bertrand Dr., then follows LA 3025 along College Dr. to Johnston St., where it resumes its historic alignment.

Clearly Louisiana is reducing its mileage in Lafayette. That's not surprising, and neither is the DOTD level of competence being shown. The new US 167 alignment doesn't make sense when Amb. Caffery Parkway (which isn't a LA highway between Bertrand Dr. and Johnston St.) shunts the alignment by multiple miles. Nobody going to Abbeville from I-10 is going to use the new US 167 alignment.

Also, what is the rationale for rerouting US 167, and not rerouting US 90 off the useless alignment on Cameron St.? DOTD could eliminate the "to US 90" business for the Evangeline Thruway by rerouting US 90 onto I-10 at, say, LA 93 in Scott or Amb. Caffery Pkwy.

At any rate, this will give Lafayette a rare interstate-US-LA triplex, which I don't think exists anywhere else in Louisiana.

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures when I was in Lafayette on Friday. Maybe Anthony_JK can grab some for us?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on November 07, 2022, 06:06:14 PM
Looks like US 167 and LA 182 have been rerouted around Lafayette.

Evangeline Thruway south of I-10 no longer carries US 167, but does carry LA 182. I only went as far as Kaliste Saloom Rd., but I expect that LA 182 now stays on Evangeline Thruway all the way to the interchange in Broussard.

As for US 167, it apparently now comes down LA 3184 to Bertrand Dr., then follows LA 3025 along College Dr. to Johnston St., where it resumes its historic alignment.

Clearly Louisiana is reducing its mileage in Lafayette. That's not surprising, and neither is the DOTD level of competence being shown. The new US 167 alignment doesn't make sense when Amb. Caffery Parkway (which isn't a LA highway between Bertrand Dr. and Johnston St.) shunts the alignment by multiple miles. Nobody going to Abbeville from I-10 is going to use the new US 167 alignment.

Also, what is the rationale for rerouting US 167, and not rerouting US 90 off the useless alignment on Cameron St.? DOTD could eliminate the "to US 90" business for the Evangeline Thruway by rerouting US 90 onto I-10 at, say, LA 93 in Scott or Amb. Caffery Pkwy.

At any rate, this will give Lafayette a rare interstate-US-LA triplex, which I don't think exists anywhere else in Louisiana.

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures when I was in Lafayette on Friday. Maybe Anthony_JK can grab some for us?

I wish I could, but I've been home-ridden because of chronic dizziness that has me forced on disability leave for the past few months.

Only thing I can guess is that Lafayette Consolidated Government wants to downgrade Johnston Street between the Thruway and South College Road for some Streetscaping, and they want to get some of the heavy truck traffic and hurricane evacuation traffic off of Johnston Street and divert it to Ambassador Caffery Parkway.

Also, having LA 182 consistently along the Evangeline Thruway to I-10 allows for a continuous surface corridor accompaniment for the potential I-49 Lafayette Connector and I-49 South upgrade further south through Broussard.



If they ever decide to build the Ambassador Caffery Parkway North extension from I-10 to I-49 North at the LA 182 interchange near Carencro (Exit 7), that would make for a perfect bypass route for both US 167 (using that and existing ACP to Johnston Street) and US 90 (from Cameron Street all the way to the existing southern/eastern terminus at existing US 90/Future I-49 South south of Broussard).


[edited for addendum]

Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on November 07, 2022, 08:16:54 PM
An update on the signage involving the new Barksdale AFB/I-220 interchange:

All of the BGSs for WB I-20 telling you about exit 26 (I-220 interchange) have now all been replaced. For the 1st in 30+ years, TEXARKANA is once again listed as the control city for I-220 WEST...no more BY-PASS listed. But...it is the only thing listed. There is no mention, and no room for, BAFB or LA 1267. The signs are FHWA standard (Gothic maybe?), except for the 2-mile BGS sign. I have no idea what it is, but the word "Texarkana" is much smaller and is ugly as homemade sin. Also, the overhead BGS at the beginning of the exit ramp does not have EXIT ONLY yellow & black labels on either side of the down pointing arrow. MUTCD is very disappointed.

Also, some number of years ago, exit numbers & tabs disappeared from some interstate-to-interstate interchanges. So as you approach the I-20 interchange on I-220 EB, exit 17B has been erased from all signage (same with the exit numbers & tabs from the I-55 & I-20 exits in Jackson, MS...mentioned as another example). However, approaching this interchange coming from BAFB on the new LA 1267, the interchange is fully signed & tabbed as exit 17B.

Why is that???
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Urban Prairie Schooner on November 07, 2022, 08:38:18 PM
Looks like US 167 and LA 182 have been rerouted around Lafayette.

Evangeline Thruway south of I-10 no longer carries US 167, but does carry LA 182. I only went as far as Kaliste Saloom Rd., but I expect that LA 182 now stays on Evangeline Thruway all the way to the interchange in Broussard.

As for US 167, it apparently now comes down LA 3184 to Bertrand Dr., then follows LA 3025 along College Dr. to Johnston St., where it resumes its historic alignment.

Clearly Louisiana is reducing its mileage in Lafayette. That's not surprising, and neither is the DOTD level of competence being shown. The new US 167 alignment doesn't make sense when Amb. Caffery Parkway (which isn't a LA highway between Bertrand Dr. and Johnston St.) shunts the alignment by multiple miles. Nobody going to Abbeville from I-10 is going to use the new US 167 alignment.

Also, what is the rationale for rerouting US 167, and not rerouting US 90 off the useless alignment on Cameron St.? DOTD could eliminate the "to US 90" business for the Evangeline Thruway by rerouting US 90 onto I-10 at, say, LA 93 in Scott or Amb. Caffery Pkwy.

At any rate, this will give Lafayette a rare interstate-US-LA triplex, which I don't think exists anywhere else in Louisiana.

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures when I was in Lafayette on Friday. Maybe Anthony_JK can grab some for us?

So the reroutes have finally been signed.  I wonder if this has been submitted to AASHTO....

I think LCG wants control of its urban streets, including Johnston Street and University Avenue. Couldn't find anything in their council minutes but that is the usual reason for urban turnbacks of this sort.

I agree about the level of DOTD competence displayed with regard to routing. Bertrand/College should be swapped for Ambassador Caffery north of Johnston Street. That would place all of Caffery under state control and create a logical Lafayette half-bypass.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: rte66man on November 15, 2022, 08:21:39 AM
From the FHWA:

https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-two-loans-totaling-nearly-41-million-help

Quote
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Two Loans Totaling Nearly $41 million to Help Louisiana Rebuild Rural Bridges and Provide Ferry Service

Monday, November 14, 2022

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that its Build America Bureau has provided low-interest loans totaling $40.9 million to the Louisiana State Bond Commission for the benefit of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) for a ferry project and a bridge improvement program. The Bureau helps communities across the country reduce the costs of infrastructure projects by providing Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans, known as TIFIA loans, and other types of financing.

The two projects that will benefit from TIFIA financing are:
  • A $19.2 million loan is for the Cameron Parish Ferry Project to provide ferry service between the Calcasieu Ship Channel on LA 27 between Cameron and Holly Beach in Cameron Parish. The scope of the project includes the design and construction of two vehicle/passenger ferries, each capable of carrying at least 35 automobiles and six semi-trucks, and 500 passengers.
  • A $21.7 million loan is for the Statewide Bridge Program which consists of six projects, including replacement of 11 structurally deficient bridges in rural areas across six different parishes throughout central and eastern Louisiana.
    The projects qualify for TIFIA’s Rural Project Initiative, which offers loans for up to 49% of the project’s eligible costs, as well as fixed interest rates that are half the U.S. Treasury rate.

“USDOT’s support for these ferry and bridge projects will help Louisiana keep people, goods, and services moving across the state,”  said Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “We are excited to support Louisiana’s efforts to improve infrastructure, connectivity, and safety for rural communities.”

“These are the fifth and sixth loans that Louisiana has closed over the past year as part of a bundle approach, which allows for more efficient processing and expedient closing. This is a model for projects around the country as we put infrastructure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to work,”  said Executive Director Morteza Farajian. 

USDOT’s Build America Bureau was established as a “one-stop-shop”  during the Obama Administration to help states and other project sponsors carry out infrastructure projects. The Bureau offers low-interest, long-term credit programs, technical assistance, and best practices in project planning, financing, delivery, and operation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden in November 2021, expands project eligibility for the Bureau’s TIFIA credit program and extends maturity of the loans, giving borrowers additional flexibility.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has closed $38.5 billion in TIFIA financing, supporting more than $132.5 billion in infrastructure investment across the country.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on November 15, 2022, 01:48:17 PM
From the FHWA:

https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/us-department-transportation-announces-two-loans-totaling-nearly-41-million-help

Quote
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Two Loans Totaling Nearly $41 million to Help Louisiana Rebuild Rural Bridges and Provide Ferry Service

Monday, November 14, 2022

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that its Build America Bureau has provided low-interest loans totaling $40.9 million to the Louisiana State Bond Commission for the benefit of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) for a ferry project and a bridge improvement program. The Bureau helps communities across the country reduce the costs of infrastructure projects by providing Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loans, known as TIFIA loans, and other types of financing.

The two projects that will benefit from TIFIA financing are:
  • A $19.2 million loan is for the Cameron Parish Ferry Project to provide ferry service between the Calcasieu Ship Channel on LA 27 between Cameron and Holly Beach in Cameron Parish. The scope of the project includes the design and construction of two vehicle/passenger ferries, each capable of carrying at least 35 automobiles and six semi-trucks, and 500 passengers.
  • A $21.7 million loan is for the Statewide Bridge Program which consists of six projects, including replacement of 11 structurally deficient bridges in rural areas across six different parishes throughout central and eastern Louisiana.
    The projects qualify for TIFIA’s Rural Project Initiative, which offers loans for up to 49% of the project’s eligible costs, as well as fixed interest rates that are half the U.S. Treasury rate.

“USDOT’s support for these ferry and bridge projects will help Louisiana keep people, goods, and services moving across the state,”  said Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg. “We are excited to support Louisiana’s efforts to improve infrastructure, connectivity, and safety for rural communities.”

“These are the fifth and sixth loans that Louisiana has closed over the past year as part of a bundle approach, which allows for more efficient processing and expedient closing. This is a model for projects around the country as we put infrastructure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to work,”  said Executive Director Morteza Farajian. 

USDOT’s Build America Bureau was established as a “one-stop-shop”  during the Obama Administration to help states and other project sponsors carry out infrastructure projects. The Bureau offers low-interest, long-term credit programs, technical assistance, and best practices in project planning, financing, delivery, and operation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden in November 2021, expands project eligibility for the Bureau’s TIFIA credit program and extends maturity of the loans, giving borrowers additional flexibility.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has closed $38.5 billion in TIFIA financing, supporting more than $132.5 billion in infrastructure investment across the country.

Some of the media seem to suggest a new location ferry. The ferry loans are just for new boats for the existing Cameron Ferry locations and PERHAPS some repairs to the landings.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on November 17, 2022, 01:46:08 PM
Looks like US 167 and LA 182 have been rerouted around Lafayette.

Evangeline Thruway south of I-10 no longer carries US 167, but does carry LA 182. I only went as far as Kaliste Saloom Rd., but I expect that LA 182 now stays on Evangeline Thruway all the way to the interchange in Broussard.

As for US 167, it apparently now comes down LA 3184 to Bertrand Dr., then follows LA 3025 along College Dr. to Johnston St., where it resumes its historic alignment.

Clearly Louisiana is reducing its mileage in Lafayette. That's not surprising, and neither is the DOTD level of competence being shown. The new US 167 alignment doesn't make sense when Amb. Caffery Parkway (which isn't a LA highway between Bertrand Dr. and Johnston St.) shunts the alignment by multiple miles. Nobody going to Abbeville from I-10 is going to use the new US 167 alignment.

Also, what is the rationale for rerouting US 167, and not rerouting US 90 off the useless alignment on Cameron St.? DOTD could eliminate the "to US 90" business for the Evangeline Thruway by rerouting US 90 onto I-10 at, say, LA 93 in Scott or Amb. Caffery Pkwy.

At any rate, this will give Lafayette a rare interstate-US-LA triplex, which I don't think exists anywhere else in Louisiana.

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures when I was in Lafayette on Friday. Maybe Anthony_JK can grab some for us?

I wish I could, but I've been home-ridden because of chronic dizziness that has me forced on disability leave for the past few months.

Only thing I can guess is that Lafayette Consolidated Government wants to downgrade Johnston Street between the Thruway and South College Road for some Streetscaping, and they want to get some of the heavy truck traffic and hurricane evacuation traffic off of Johnston Street and divert it to Ambassador Caffery Parkway.

Also, having LA 182 consistently along the Evangeline Thruway to I-10 allows for a continuous surface corridor accompaniment for the potential I-49 Lafayette Connector and I-49 South upgrade further south through Broussard.



If they ever decide to build the Ambassador Caffery Parkway North extension from I-10 to I-49 North at the LA 182 interchange near Carencro (Exit 7), that would make for a perfect bypass route for both US 167 (using that and existing ACP to Johnston Street) and US 90 (from Cameron Street all the way to the existing southern/eastern terminus at existing US 90/Future I-49 South south of Broussard).


[edited for addendum]



Just saw the updated map for Lafayette as of September.

It appears that the reroute for US 167 is as follows:

Going north on Johnston Street to S. College Road; west on S. College in front of UL's Cajun Field to Bertrand Drive; north on Bertrand to the connection with Ambassador Caffery Parkway; north on Ambassador Caffery to Cameron Street; east on Cameron/Mudd Avenue to Evangeline Thruway (concurrent with US 90); then north on Evangeline Thruway out to current I-49.

It also confirms that LA 182 will be rerouted north along US 90/Evangeline Thruway all the way to I-10, then will use I-10 west to the North University Avenue exit (101) to continue north on the existing route. However, the map states that the section of LA 182 through Carencro to the I-49 North interchange is scheduled to be transferred to local, so does that mean that 182 will be rerouted along I-49/US 167 north all the way to Sunset/Carencro or even Opelousas?

I can't imagine removing so many major arterials out of the state system and making them local. Perhaps Lafayette Parish could use some of those county/parish road designation signs like some parishes have?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Urban Prairie Schooner on November 17, 2022, 09:42:25 PM
Looks like US 167 and LA 182 have been rerouted around Lafayette.

Evangeline Thruway south of I-10 no longer carries US 167, but does carry LA 182. I only went as far as Kaliste Saloom Rd., but I expect that LA 182 now stays on Evangeline Thruway all the way to the interchange in Broussard.

As for US 167, it apparently now comes down LA 3184 to Bertrand Dr., then follows LA 3025 along College Dr. to Johnston St., where it resumes its historic alignment.

Clearly Louisiana is reducing its mileage in Lafayette. That's not surprising, and neither is the DOTD level of competence being shown. The new US 167 alignment doesn't make sense when Amb. Caffery Parkway (which isn't a LA highway between Bertrand Dr. and Johnston St.) shunts the alignment by multiple miles. Nobody going to Abbeville from I-10 is going to use the new US 167 alignment.

Also, what is the rationale for rerouting US 167, and not rerouting US 90 off the useless alignment on Cameron St.? DOTD could eliminate the "to US 90" business for the Evangeline Thruway by rerouting US 90 onto I-10 at, say, LA 93 in Scott or Amb. Caffery Pkwy.

At any rate, this will give Lafayette a rare interstate-US-LA triplex, which I don't think exists anywhere else in Louisiana.

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures when I was in Lafayette on Friday. Maybe Anthony_JK can grab some for us?

I wish I could, but I've been home-ridden because of chronic dizziness that has me forced on disability leave for the past few months.

Only thing I can guess is that Lafayette Consolidated Government wants to downgrade Johnston Street between the Thruway and South College Road for some Streetscaping, and they want to get some of the heavy truck traffic and hurricane evacuation traffic off of Johnston Street and divert it to Ambassador Caffery Parkway.

Also, having LA 182 consistently along the Evangeline Thruway to I-10 allows for a continuous surface corridor accompaniment for the potential I-49 Lafayette Connector and I-49 South upgrade further south through Broussard.



If they ever decide to build the Ambassador Caffery Parkway North extension from I-10 to I-49 North at the LA 182 interchange near Carencro (Exit 7), that would make for a perfect bypass route for both US 167 (using that and existing ACP to Johnston Street) and US 90 (from Cameron Street all the way to the existing southern/eastern terminus at existing US 90/Future I-49 South south of Broussard).


[edited for addendum]



Just saw the updated map for Lafayette as of September.

It appears that the reroute for US 167 is as follows:

Going north on Johnston Street to S. College Road; west on S. College in front of UL's Cajun Field to Bertrand Drive; north on Bertrand to the connection with Ambassador Caffery Parkway; north on Ambassador Caffery to Cameron Street; east on Cameron/Mudd Avenue to Evangeline Thruway (concurrent with US 90); then north on Evangeline Thruway out to current I-49.

It also confirms that LA 182 will be rerouted north along US 90/Evangeline Thruway all the way to I-10, then will use I-10 west to the North University Avenue exit (101) to continue north on the existing route. However, the map states that the section of LA 182 through Carencro to the I-49 North interchange is scheduled to be transferred to local, so does that mean that 182 will be rerouted along I-49/US 167 north all the way to Sunset/Carencro or even Opelousas?

I can't imagine removing so many major arterials out of the state system and making them local. Perhaps Lafayette Parish could use some of those county/parish road designation signs like some parishes have?


The GIS data shows US 167 routed over I-10 from Amb. Caffery to I-49 instead of US 90.  Is the field signage different?

Regarding state maintenance of surface streets in urban areas, except for the most important roads route numbers largely do not play a role in navigation. I doubt more than a handful of drivers among the general public know (or care) that College Road is a state highway (much less its route number) and just know it by its street name.  The same could be said for most state maintained urban arterials in all the state's other major cities.  Parish numbered highways would be more useful in rural areas where street names are not well signed or are non-existent.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on November 18, 2022, 12:27:38 AM
I'm going off the RS map for Lafayette that was published at the LADOTD website, which clearly marks US 167 as cosigned with US 90 going down Cameron Street/Mudd Avenue instead of I-10.

Perhaps something changed in the interim to modify the route?

Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bassoon1986 on November 25, 2022, 10:32:40 PM
This 167/182 nonsense is ridiculous. I had forgotten about part of this thread until today when I needed to drive to Breaux Bridge. Upon coming back to the I-10/I-49 interchange I found this signage. I really want to explore Lafayette more to see if the full reroutes are all signed.

I’d forgotten the details from this thread, so when I saw these signs I just thought US 167 was left off of the south exit with 182 instead.  (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20221126/e96fad53f8b49bb2118e436814cc033b.jpg)


iPhone
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on November 26, 2022, 10:57:09 AM
I'm gonna venture a guess and say the LA 182 is a greenout patch over the US 167 shield?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on November 27, 2022, 01:48:11 AM
I'm going off the RS map for Lafayette that was published at the LADOTD website, which clearly marks US 167 as cosigned with US 90 going down Cameron Street/Mudd Avenue instead of I-10.

Perhaps something changed in the interim to modify the route?

This is probably to move the miles from being maintained by the City / Parish to being maintained by DOTD. LA182 would still be maintained by DOTD.

It could be by some idea also be a way to take UL off the highway.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: kirbykart on December 10, 2022, 01:03:25 PM
An update on the signage involving the new Barksdale AFB/I-220 interchange:

All of the BGSs for WB I-20 telling you about exit 26 (I-220 interchange) have now all been replaced. For the 1st in 30+ years, TEXARKANA is once again listed as the control city for I-220 WEST...no more BY-PASS listed. But...it is the only thing listed. There is no mention, and no room for, BAFB or LA 1267. The signs are FHWA standard (Gothic maybe?), except for the 2-mile BGS sign. I have no idea what it is, but the word "Texarkana" is much smaller and is ugly as homemade sin. Also, the overhead BGS at the beginning of the exit ramp does not have EXIT ONLY yellow & black labels on either side of the down pointing arrow. MUTCD is very disappointed.

 Speaking of BY-PASS, the same thing happens with I-210 in Lake Charles; on both sides it just says "Lake Charles BY-PASS". Why does LADOTD do this? They should use actual controls (probably Lafayette or Baton Rouge EB, and Beaumont or Houston WB).
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: froggie on December 10, 2022, 04:24:53 PM
Looks like US 167 and LA 182 have been rerouted around Lafayette.

Evangeline Thruway south of I-10 no longer carries US 167, but does carry LA 182. I only went as far as Kaliste Saloom Rd., but I expect that LA 182 now stays on Evangeline Thruway all the way to the interchange in Broussard.

As for US 167, it apparently now comes down LA 3184 to Bertrand Dr., then follows LA 3025 along College Dr. to Johnston St., where it resumes its historic alignment.

Clearly Louisiana is reducing its mileage in Lafayette. That's not surprising, and neither is the DOTD level of competence being shown. The new US 167 alignment doesn't make sense when Amb. Caffery Parkway (which isn't a LA highway between Bertrand Dr. and Johnston St.) shunts the alignment by multiple miles. Nobody going to Abbeville from I-10 is going to use the new US 167 alignment.

Also, what is the rationale for rerouting US 167, and not rerouting US 90 off the useless alignment on Cameron St.? DOTD could eliminate the "to US 90" business for the Evangeline Thruway by rerouting US 90 onto I-10 at, say, LA 93 in Scott or Amb. Caffery Pkwy.

At any rate, this will give Lafayette a rare interstate-US-LA triplex, which I don't think exists anywhere else in Louisiana.

Unfortunately I didn't get pictures when I was in Lafayette on Friday. Maybe Anthony_JK can grab some for us?

So the reroutes have finally been signed.  I wonder if this has been submitted to AASHTO....

Per a recent post in another thread (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=31383), yes something was submitted and approved back in the spring.  But we don't have the details of WHAT was submitted yet.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on January 06, 2023, 10:52:59 PM
I agree about the level of DOTD competence displayed with regard to routing. Bertrand/College should be swapped for Ambassador Caffery north of Johnston Street. That would place all of Caffery under state control and create a logical Lafayette half-bypass.

There is a logic in that Bertrand Drive is already a state route and Ambassador Caffery is not a state route between Bertrand Drive and Johnston St. So the US 167 reroute follows road that's already under the state's purview and doesn't add any mileage to the state's plate.

It's lazy logic, the sort of minimalist quality that we tend to get in Louisiana. Only DOTD sees any sense in Ambassador Caffery not carrying LA 3073 all the way to LA 3814.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on January 07, 2023, 12:24:23 PM
I agree about the level of DOTD competence displayed with regard to routing. Bertrand/College should be swapped for Ambassador Caffery north of Johnston Street. That would place all of Caffery under state control and create a logical Lafayette half-bypass.

There is a logic in that Bertrand Drive is already a state route and Ambassador Caffery is not a state route between Bertrand Drive and Johnston St. So the US 167 reroute follows road that's already under the state's purview and doesn't add any mileage to the state's plate.

It's lazy logic, the sort of minimalist quality that we tend to get in Louisiana. Only DOTD sees any sense in Ambassador Caffery not carrying LA 3073 all the way to LA 3814.

You seem to see this as transportation. It is just the way LADOTD and the local communities negotiate and trade highway maintenance / construction  back and forth. Sometimes they will exchange lane miles from a newly refurbished stretch to one that is barely open almost as soon as DOTD has finished the upgrade. This is primarily done when DOTD has extra money, but that is not the only time they do it.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: jbnv on February 04, 2023, 09:10:41 PM
I agree about the level of DOTD competence displayed with regard to routing. Bertrand/College should be swapped for Ambassador Caffery north of Johnston Street. That would place all of Caffery under state control and create a logical Lafayette half-bypass.

There is a logic in that Bertrand Drive is already a state route and Ambassador Caffery is not a state route between Bertrand Drive and Johnston St. So the US 167 reroute follows road that's already under the state's purview and doesn't add any mileage to the state's plate.

It's lazy logic, the sort of minimalist quality that we tend to get in Louisiana. Only DOTD sees any sense in Ambassador Caffery not carrying LA 3073 all the way to LA 3814.

You seem to see this as transportation. It is just the way LADOTD and the local communities negotiate and trade highway maintenance / construction  back and forth. Sometimes they will exchange lane miles from a newly refurbished stretch to one that is barely open almost as soon as DOTD has finished the upgrade. This is primarily done when DOTD has extra money, but that is not the only time they do it.

Why wouldn't I see this as transportation? If there's no navigational aspect to it, then it doesn't need to be signed. There's no compelling reason for the BGS for Evangeline Thruway to have "LA 182" on it unless LA 182 has navigational value. "Evangeline Thruway" should actually be on the sign because the name "Evangeline Thruway" has navigational value. LA 182 doesn't have any navigational value within the city of Lafayette.

I think this is a fair criticism of DOTD. I've lived in Tangipahoa Parish for almost 10 years. You could put a gun to my head and force me to tell you the street names of US 190, US 51 and US 51 BUS. And I expect I would fail that test. Because none of the interstate interchanges with these roads have the street names on the BGSes. Just "Hammond." I'm old enough to remember when the LA 182 exit from I-10 read "Lafayette / Carencro" instead of "N University Avenue."
Title: I-20 REBUILD Bossier City
Post by: bwana39 on May 26, 2023, 05:46:26 PM
https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/26/dotd-announces-110-million-project-repair-i-20-bossier-parts-shreveport/

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32912

Not sure exactly what they are doing, but they are NOT adding any lanes or replacing existing bridges.



Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cjk374 on May 28, 2023, 04:52:52 PM
https://lincolnparishjournal.com/2023/05/27/hwy-167-overpass-down-to-one-lane/

This article states that the overpasses at exits 84 & 85 (2 at exit 85 carry US 167/LA 146 as one way couplets) are the oldest on all of I-20. They all have 1959 engraved on the bridge ends. So now I guess we can say that I-20 may have started in Ruston? I have looked at culverts under I-20 in Ruston, and they have 1958 etched above them. Was I-20 started earlier somewhere else?
Title: Re: I-20 REBUILD Bossier City
Post by: rlb2024 on May 29, 2023, 10:05:22 AM
https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/26/dotd-announces-110-million-project-repair-i-20-bossier-parts-shreveport/

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32912

Not sure exactly what they are doing, but they are NOT adding any lanes or replacing existing bridges.
The concrete along I-20 through Bossier City is in horrible shape.  I hate driving through there when we go visit our son in Bossier.  And while I wish they were widening the highway anything will help.
Title: Re: I-20 REBUILD Bossier City
Post by: mgk920 on May 29, 2023, 11:44:57 AM
https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/26/dotd-announces-110-million-project-repair-i-20-bossier-parts-shreveport/

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32912

Not sure exactly what they are doing, but they are NOT adding any lanes or replacing existing bridges.
The concrete along I-20 through Bossier City is in horrible shape.  I hate driving through there when we go visit our son in Bossier.  And while I wish they were widening the highway anything will help.

E few years ago Big Rig Steve drove I-20 through the Shreveport, LA area and the road surface was so bad that it made a real mess of the stuff in the cab of his truck.

Yes, it's due for simple repaving.

Mike
Title: Re: I-20 REBUILD Bossier City
Post by: Plutonic Panda on May 29, 2023, 04:07:18 PM
https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/26/dotd-announces-110-million-project-repair-i-20-bossier-parts-shreveport/

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32912

Not sure exactly what they are doing, but they are NOT adding any lanes or replacing existing bridges.
For some reason I had thought they were adding auxiliary lanes and doing a major rehab or outright replacement of the bridge.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on June 04, 2023, 02:38:29 AM
I don't know if anyone has already reported this, since it went down last February, but:

LaDOTD and FHWA announced that they had released an approved Tier 1 Final EIS and ROD for the Lafayette Regional Expressway toll loop.

The approved corridor is defined as the Outer Corridor extending from I-49 just north of Carencro southwest and south to I-10 between Scott and Duson; then south generally paralleling Fieldspan Road to US 167 west and south of Maurice, then curving east along northern Vermilion Parish just south of Youngsville to US 90/Future I-49 South at the current US 90/LA 88 interchange, with an extension to LA 182 near Cade to serve Acadiana Regional Airport. It basically follows the outer perimeter of Lafayette Parish and the northern portion of Vermilion Parish.

No word as of yet on when Tier 2 studies, which will pinpoint the exact alignment of the LRX tollway, will commence or what the funding details will entail.

This is considered an independent project, completely separate from the I-49 Lafayette Connector and freeway upgrade of US 90 south of Lafayette; while the usual opponents of the Connector were around during the Public Hearing last October attempting to push this as an alternative bypass to the Connector, LADOTD and LMEC officials were having none of that.

The announcement of the release of the Tier 1 FEIS/ROD can be found at LADOTD's website (https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32098) and at the LRX website (https://www.lrxpressway.com/).
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: The Ghostbuster on June 04, 2023, 12:52:57 PM
Will this toll loop have any highway designation, such as Interstate 249?
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on June 04, 2023, 10:56:02 PM
They really haven't said; they could do what Houston does with their toll roads and not designate a number since most of the income will come from the tolls; but, if they do assign a number it probably will be something like an x49.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Bobby5280 on July 12, 2023, 07:32:06 PM
I wonder if the plans for this partial loop raise any risk of derailing plans for the I-49 inter-city connector.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on July 12, 2023, 10:10:20 PM
I wonder if the plans for this partial loop raise any risk of derailing plans for the I-49 inter-city connector.


Bobby,

I don't think so. The connector is slowly but surely progressing in Lafayette. I think what most people on here fail to recognize is the growth of Lafayette and its' metro area. It has gone from fourth or fifth to third in metro population in Louisiana and is growing fast. I would say faster, but Lake Charles and Houma are growing as fast or perhaps faster.

Shreveport / Bossier, Monroe, and Alexandria / Pineville are shrinking.

The bottom line is that Lafayette needs the added infrastructure. It needs both the toll loop AND the I-49 connector. and perhaps a full loop.

 


This is considered an independent project, completely separate from the I-49 Lafayette Connector and freeway upgrade of US 90 south of Lafayette; while the usual opponents of the Connector were around during the Public Hearing last October attempting to push this as an alternative bypass to the Connector, LADOTD and LMEC officials were having none of that.


Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Anthony_JK on July 13, 2023, 12:31:06 AM
The LRX is a totally separate and independent project from I-49 South and the Lafayette Connector project. It would be funded mostly with tolls through AET/pay by mail, with some fed/state matching funds. It would be too far anyway to impact the value of the Connector project.

Also, portions of the Connector project are actually funded and may even start construction later this year or next year. A letting for the portion including the Willow Street interchange to I-10 is now on the list of scheduled lettings over at the LADOTD website, set for bidding in November. And, it seems like the Supplemental EIS process has now resumed; the Connector website is listing a new round of meetings set for later this summer/early fall, and there is the possibility of the SEIS being issued for public view and comment by early 2024.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: cenlaroads on July 27, 2023, 12:29:31 PM
From this past Tuesday.  The state has selected a partner for the Calcasieu River Bridge project in Lake Charles:

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=33364


The total cost of the project is estimated at $2.1 billion!
Title: Re: I-20 REBUILD Bossier City
Post by: bwana39 on September 07, 2023, 09:04:32 AM
https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/26/dotd-announces-110-million-project-repair-i-20-bossier-parts-shreveport/

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32912

Not sure exactly what they are doing, but they are NOT adding any lanes or replacing existing bridges.

Work on the I-20 rebuild through western Bossier city begins next month. It also explains exactly what they are going to do.

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=33715
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: Plutonic Panda on September 07, 2023, 02:31:54 PM
From the bridge to LA-3 Looks like it’s 3 lanes each way with aux lanes for a road that handles 70-100k vehicles per day that sounds fairly sufficient. Still, I’d add a lane for any future growth to stay ahead of the curve. It drops off to two lanes after that and you think they’d widen it to 3 lanes each way to I-220.

The Red River Bridge and the section through Downtown Shreveport really need to be next on the radar for reconstruction, expansion, and modernization. Won’t come cheap though and it doesn’t appear LADOT has this project on their list as they have other more pressing priorities.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on September 07, 2023, 08:51:18 PM
From the bridge to LA-3 Looks like it’s 3 lanes each way with aux lanes for a road that handles 70-100k vehicles per day that sounds fairly sufficient. Still, I’d add a lane for any future growth to stay ahead of the curve. It drops off to two lanes after that and you think they’d widen it to 3 lanes each way to I-220.

The Red River Bridge and the section through Downtown Shreveport really need to be next on the radar for reconstruction, expansion, and modernization. Won’t come cheap though and it doesn’t appear LADOT has this project on their list as they have other more pressing priorities.


Yeah, but.. The I-20 bridges may be the 3rd priority for Red River Bridges in metro Shreveport Bossier.
Title: Re: I-20 REBUILD Bossier City
Post by: bwana39 on September 25, 2023, 03:04:03 PM
https://www.ksla.com/2023/05/26/dotd-announces-110-million-project-repair-i-20-bossier-parts-shreveport/

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=32912

Not sure exactly what they are doing, but they are NOT adding any lanes or replacing existing bridges.

Work on the I-20 rebuild through western Bossier city begins next month. It also explains exactly what they are going to do.

http://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=33715

https://www.ksla.com/video/2023/09/24/ten-crashes-reported-since-i-20-rehab-project-began-sept-18/ Shreveport / Bossier Traffic
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: bwana39 on November 04, 2023, 03:53:37 AM
The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is 50 years old.

https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/Announcement.aspx?key=34164
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: r15-1 on December 28, 2023, 11:47:59 PM
https://lincolnparishjournal.com/2023/05/27/hwy-167-overpass-down-to-one-lane/

This article states that the overpasses at exits 84 & 85 (2 at exit 85 carry US 167/LA 146 as one way couplets) are the oldest on all of I-20. They all have 1959 engraved on the bridge ends. So now I guess we can say that I-20 may have started in Ruston? I have looked at culverts under I-20 in Ruston, and they have 1958 etched above them. Was I-20 started earlier somewhere else?
I'm not old enough to remember where I-20 construction started first, but I'm sure the stretch from Ruston east to Monroe was first to open. That was due to the high number of serious accidents on US 80 before I-20 existed.

The section from west of Ruston to a surface intersection with US 79-80 west of Dixie Inn was open by the mid '60s. The last Louisiana I-20 gap to be completed in mid-1975 when I-20 was opened from there to Industrial Drive in Bossier City.

I know most of I-20 east of Monroe toward Vicksburg was not opened until the late '60s or early '70s with the Vicksburg bridge opening February 14, 1973.
Title: Re: Western Louisiana
Post by: rte66man on January 19, 2024, 08:11:50 AM
https://www.enr.com/external_headlines/story?region=&story_id=9ua5EDTXTJrKP35ZMZuSOCXFcZWVMYRZ8YGkkCkoL1H9yEzU0uqrwGLesAF_qNCDIQNWtVqL5UApFpJ67t8JYnGaQmJEQcFBpGCX7NZOAC3hnOcqL9PdZpi7YNNFqumG&images_premium=1&define_caption=1&utm_medium=emailsend&utm_source=NL-ENR-ENR+News+Alert&utm_content=BNPCD240118066_01&oly_enc_id=8218A8423578E8C

Quote
Work on Key Louisiana Bridge Connector to Houma-Thibodaux Could Finish 3 Years Late

The Advocate

Jan. 18—The contractor taking over a delayed bridge replacement on a key connector between the Houma - Thibodaux area and the Mississippi River expects work to last another year or so, almost three years later than expected, state officials said Thursday. The new contractor, JB James Construction , is expected to be fully mobilized and resume work on the La. 20 bridge over Bayou Chevreuil the week of Jan. 29 , state highway officials said.

Cutting through isolated wooded swamps and ending in St. James Parish, La. 20 is one of the few direct links for Lafourche Parish with the west bank of the Mississippi and the industrial and marine jobs along the river. The Bayou Chevreuil bridge south of Vacherie sits on the parish line dividing St. James and Lafourche .

JB James Construction is replacing TL Hawk on the $11.6 million bridge replacement after TL Hawk defaulted and state highway officials had to suspend work and pull the company's construction bond.

State Department of Transportation and Development officials said Thursday the bonding company has recently finalized an agreement with JB James Construction. JB James will finish building a new, wider and longer bridge over Bayou Chevreuil. The old bridge had raised safety concerns for some residents.

The new contractor has projected work will take another 255 working days, or 15 months, excluding weather delays, DOTD officials said. The bridge originally had been projected to be finished in spring 2022. The new bridge was supposed to be completed before a separate $19.8 million state project to widen and add shoulders to three miles of two-lane La. 20 in the same area, between Vacherie and Chackbay .

DOTD officials said Barber Bros . Contracting Co., the contractor of the highway widening, will coordinate with the bridge contractor.

(c)2024 The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.