I-69 in LA (and LA 3132/Shreveport Inner Loop Extension)

[The Ghostbuster]

Will this frontage road construction be like what they do in Texas? Build the frontage roads first, and then add the freeway or tollway at a later date?

[debragga]

The frontage road(s?) for I-69 from I-49 to the port of Shreveport is funded.
https://www.ktbs.com/news/caddo-desoto-i-69-frontage-road-project-gets-federal-funding/article_dc62fbc8-8be3-11ef-a6d5-dba25d2cc548.html

I'm surprised it even gets funding at all, knowing Louisiana and their other plans (I-10, I-20, I-49)

This is the one part of I-69 that's actually useful for Louisiana and specifically for local interests in Shreveport/Bossier, and it's still not a full freeway. This is as bare minimum as it gets.

[Anthony_JK]

This looks more to be a single 2-lane 2-way frontage road designed to set the ROW for the future freeway. Maybe they go the "Super-2" route with interchanges at major intersections as a placeholder until they get the funds for the full freeway?

[TheBox]

Will this frontage road construction be like what they do in Texas? Build the frontage roads first, and then add the freeway or tollway at a later date?

I wish, but this is Louisiana we're talking about. One of the poorer states.

If they can't even afford to rebuild or even replace the tar on I-10 and I-20, then they just can't afford to do shit

[bwana39]

This looks more to be a single 2-lane 2-way frontage road designed to set the ROW for the future freeway. Maybe they go the "Super-2" route with interchanges at major intersections as a placeholder until they get the funds for the full freeway?

Nope it will not be super-2. Just a basic 40' traveling surface with intersections and side of the road traffic.

[Bobby5280]

I don't think it's a bad thing at all for them to build a single frontage road with what amounts to ordinary surface street design features. At least it would be a frontage road rather than something pulling double-duty as freeway main lanes between the intersections. In the latter case you won't know if continuous frontage roads would be built. Each approach as their pros and cons. But in any location where there is an intention to foster new commercial or industrial development the frontage roads are going to be needed. Might as well get them built first and then add proper freeway main lanes later.

[sprjus4]

I don't think it's a bad thing at all for them to build a single frontage road with what amounts to ordinary surface street design features. At least it would be a frontage road rather than something pulling double-duty as freeway main lanes between the intersections. In the latter case you won't know if continuous frontage roads would be built. Each approach as their pros and cons. But in any location where there is an intention to foster new commercial or industrial development the frontage roads are going to be needed. Might as well get them built first and then add proper freeway main lanes later.

I don't think this is going to be a long term frontage road in the sense Texas does. More like a two lane roadway that will eventually become one of the mainlines with a parallel roadway built for the other direction later. Similar to the super-two's in Arkansas, I imagine.

[Bobby5280]

Are there any schematics showing the actual design? If they do build a 2-lane street that is supposed to end up being one of the two freeway roadways then much or all of it would have to be built with Interstate-quality grading and curve geometry. A 2-lane street that would end up being a frontage road doesn't have to be built to those standards; it would cost less to build.

[Anthony_JK]

Since this frontage road is completely separate from the actual construction of I-69 SIU 14 (??), I'm thinking that it will simply be an conventional 2-lane roadway that may serve as a continuous frontage road for whatever 4-lane freeway is ultimately built. Especially in that they are using Flounory-Lucas Road's interchange with I-49 as the western terminus, which is a diamond interchange. I can assume that any actual interchange between I-49 and I-69 will be at least a fully directional stack, if they don't downsize to a full cloverleaf or maybe cloverstack to save dollars. 

[Bobby5280]

Initially I thought the LA-3132 extension to the proposed I-69 corridor would be built more like a rural Interstate -one with exits spaced miles apart and no frontage roads. The September 2022 FONSI document illustrated such a thing on the project map (Alternative B2). There only one exit along the freeway between the current end of LA-3132 and the Y interchange with I-69.

The notion LA DOT is adding a frontage road raises some questions. Are they going to need a wider ROW than they originally planned to acquire? Does this mean the actual main lanes of the LA-3132 will be built later than planned? Building a frontage road alongside proposed freeway ROW is a good way to secure the land for the long term. If the freeway main lanes don't get built for another decade or two it's very likely all sorts of development would get built over the proposed ROW.

Frontage roads didn't appear to be necessary with the original design of the LA-3132 extension. The land the proposed freeway crosses is mostly rural in nature. Some of it may be in the flood plain. On the other hand, if I-69 is completed thru that region it could seed a lot of growth around the Port of Caddo-Bossier site. There could be more industrial sites and logistical buildings constructed there. And then parallel frontage roads would be a good thing.

[Anthony_JK]

The frontage road, I suppose, is supposed to be a placeholder for ROW acquisition for most of the future freeway, as well as a means to improve access to the Port of Shreveport-Bossier. Hasn't an alignment already been set for that portion of I-69 already; I thought they had issued a ROD/FEIS for that segment?

The "I-69 frontage road' concept does not apply to the LA 3132/Inner Loop extension; that is a separate project that would connect to future I-69 freeway a bit west of the port. I'm guessing that the Inner Loop extension gets constructed at the same time if not later than I-69.

[Great Lakes Roads]

THREAD UPDATE!

https://www.ksla.com/2026/05/27/shreveport-council-approves-red-river-expressway-right-way/

First toll road coming to northwest Louisiana! The expressway would stretch 8 miles, starting at the end of Highway 3132 at Flournoy Lucas Road, then running toward Highway 1 in south Shreveport, before crossing into Bossier City using a new toll bridge.

[bwana39]

They have been discussing the bridge for several years. This road from Shreveport to the port was to be publicly funded and it was not very high up anyone's priority list.

[The Ghostbuster]

Will this toll road be an extension of LA 3132?

[Anthony_JK]

I'm wondering if this new bridge and roadway would be built to Interstate standards, so the new bridge could be integrated within any routing of I-69 between I-49 and I-20. It wouldn't make much sense to build this new toll bridge and then build another one parallel to it for I-69.

[bwana39]

The take is that it will be compatible with and an eventual part of I-69. One discussion was for it to be 2 lanes needing a twinned span for the interstate. This was before the discussion of an extension of the Inner Loop.

[ElishaGOtis]

The take is that it will be compatible with and an eventual part of I-69. One discussion was for it to be 2 lanes needing a twinned span for the interstate. This was before the discussion of an extension of the Inner Loop.

It seems like this could be partially the case, but admittedly I'm having some doubts... the entire thing will have speed limit of 35mph per the ROW agreement, and according to the below article, it could include some roundabouts and sharper curves on the east side.

https://mykisscountry937.com/ixp/180/p/red-river-expressway-update/?tsq=sl&fbclid=IwdGRleASImvJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeV6vlmdE4Pih4IzRUV4wdjh0AFoNkGL5f7LaQSsuYNug50KKCy28hCixOuOk_aem_cHx2Wy4_PQL3t-dJ4IOiog



ROW agreement, see ORD 57 in this (download PDF): https://shreveportla.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=1630

[abqtraveler]

The take is that it will be compatible with and an eventual part of I-69. One discussion was for it to be 2 lanes needing a twinned span for the interstate. This was before the discussion of an extension of the Inner Loop.

It seems like this could be partially the case, but admittedly I'm having some doubts... the entire thing will have speed limit of 35mph per the ROW agreement, and according to the below article, it could include some roundabouts and sharper curves on the east side.

https://mykisscountry937.com/ixp/180/p/red-river-expressway-update/?tsq=sl&fbclid=IwdGRleASImvJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeV6vlmdE4Pih4IzRUV4wdjh0AFoNkGL5f7LaQSsuYNug50KKCy28hCixOuOk_aem_cHx2Wy4_PQL3t-dJ4IOiog



ROW agreement, see ORD 57 in this (download PDF): https://shreveportla.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=1630

How does this project relate to the I-69 Frontage Road project from I-49 to LA-1? Is that tied into the toll bridge project, or a separate project?

[bwana39]

The take is that it will be compatible with and an eventual part of I-69. One discussion was for it to be 2 lanes needing a twinned span for the interstate. This was before the discussion of an extension of the Inner Loop.

It seems like this could be partially the case, but admittedly I'm having some doubts... the entire thing will have speed limit of 35mph per the ROW agreement, and according to the below article, it could include some roundabouts and sharper curves on the east side.

https://mykisscountry937.com/ixp/180/p/red-river-expressway-update/?tsq=sl&fbclid=IwdGRleASImvJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeV6vlmdE4Pih4IzRUV4wdjh0AFoNkGL5f7LaQSsuYNug50KKCy28hCixOuOk_aem_cHx2Wy4_PQL3t-dJ4IOiog



ROW agreement, see ORD 57 in this (download PDF): https://shreveportla.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=1630

69
How does this project relate to the I-69 Frontage Road project from I-49 to LA-1? Is that tied into the toll bridge project, or a separate project?

They are absolutely different projects.  Will they opt to combine or co-opt them? Good question.

The proposed crossing on the Alabama project is about a mile from the projected I-69 crossing, but they are close enough, I don't think it will be a deal breaker if they opt to combine them.

As to the 35 mph speed limit. That looks to be just the part that is inside the current Shreveport City Limits. The road will veer east and outside the city limits almost as soon as it crosses Bayou Pierre .


Now to the roundabouts: Both of the proposed roundabouts are on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway extension in Bossier. If I-69 were to track this path it would have veered off to the east before them.


This said, it looks more like a parkway (think A-R-T or even Clyde Fant). Like them, both shun heavy trucks. The only real advantage for the Shreveport side would be to get some of the traffic off of Flournoy Lucas and Youree (LA-1).

The bridge is a need. It WILL have access for heavy trucks. My guess is the parkway will be to add theoretical(paying) vehicles to the number crossing the bridge where the tolls will be.