Baton Rouge Loop

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

The real reason a bypass has yet to be built around Baton Rouge? Louisianians don't understand math.
Politicians and the public (supposedly) are becoming scared of the cost involved?  Do they think concrete or asphalt grows on trees?! 
Part of the article, that I'm linking below, discusses one alternative to the BR Loop by building a West Bank Expressway from Port Allen (otherside of BR) down to Luling (and onto I-310 I suppose).  Wasn't there a proposal for a West Bank Expressway from the Huey Long Bridge (NOLA version) on up to.....(where?) in the 60s or 70s?
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/84363752.html?showAll=y&c=y

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Earlier articles about the BR Loop (from the closed Louisiana thread)

Speaking of the Baton Rouge Loop (what the local media calls it).
Couple of articles from the BR fishwrap about the latest proposals....
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/50550082.html
Maritime industry interests say they are concerned that the placement of bridges across the Mississippi River for the proposed Baton Rouge traffic loop could pose navigational and safety hazards for shippers, depending on where the spans are built and how they are designed.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/49787922.html
For the "northern loop" the bridge site will be immediately south of the current US 190 (Huey P. Long, aka "old bridge") bridge. They also drop proposals to route the loop north of Southern Univ. and near (another) Exxon-Mobil refinery on through my current residence between Zachary & Baker.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/44793337.html
Local survey shows support for a loop

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/44035752.html
Article about possible options for funding construction of said loop (this is from the end of April, 2009)

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Baton Rouge loop maps are doing the regional tour thing again (from January, 2010).
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/81202877.html

[Chris]

I've read Baton Rouge's traffic is one of the worst in the U.S. on a relative scale.

[Anthony_JK]

Personally, I'm against the Baton Rouge Loop as it is currently planned...way too expensive, way too dependent of tolls, and even with BR's traffic problems, that area's not quite big enough to warrant such a loop highway.

A southern bypass of I-10 would probably be warranted to remove through traffic from BR's segment...but going back to the original idea of widening I-10 in Baton Rouge between the Mississippi River and the 10/12 split would be much better.  The northern portion of the loop would be better served by upgrading Airline Highway from LA 415 to I-12 to limited access.

Actually, upgrading LA 1 from I-10 to Donaldsonville and at least four-laning LA 3127 south of there to I-310/US 90/Future I-49 South and utilizing the existing Sunshine Bridge connection to I-10 on the East Bank would probably be more than efficient.  Adding a four-lane arterial bridge across the Mississippi between Gardere and Plaquemine to connect LA 1 and LA 30 would be a nice bonus.

The money saved from this should be used to complete more important projects....like the I-49 Connector through Lafayette and the US 90 upgrade between Lafayette and Morgan City.


Anthony

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Adding a four-lane arterial bridge across the Mississippi between Gardere and Plaquemine to connect LA 1 and LA 30 would be a nice bonus.

Anthony

I thought that was already part the southern part of the BR loop you stated above.  Mind you, they won't want any bridge too close to Gardere.  That's where the next casino is going to be built (Aproved by EBR parish, just waiting on the economy to improve before building)

[UptownRoadGeek]

Actually, upgrading LA 1 from I-10 to Donaldsonville and at least four-laning LA 3127 south of there to I-310/US 90/Future I-49 South and utilizing the existing Sunshine Bridge connection to I-10 on the East Bank would probably be more than efficient.  Adding a four-lane arterial bridge across the Mississippi between Gardere and Plaquemine to connect LA 1 and LA 30 would be a nice bonus.

The money saved from this should be used to complete more important projects....like the I-49 Connector through Lafayette and the US 90 upgrade between Lafayette and Morgan City.


Anthony

I love this idea.  Don't know how feasible it is, but I love it.  It would have to be more feasible than the loop.

Upgrade LA-1 from the I-10 to LA 3127 and then 3127 to I-310.  That way they could direct all New Orleans and River Parish traffic that way.  I don't know if it will be "heavily" used outside of hurricane evacuations, but having people start using that route would knock off some traffic from the South BR stretch of I-10.  The I-10 at I-110 will still be a problem and so will the that stretch between I-110 and College.

It could be I-410 or they could GeauxPass it.  They could even tie it into the Westbank Expwy.

[eXfaktor]

I'm new, freshman at LSU, C.E. major. That's basically the MINIMUM that they need to do. Widening I-10 from Port Allen to the 10/12 split is impossible b/c ROW acquisition would be ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE HELL, besides a couple of bridges that might require complete rebuilding... one key to me is extending anything in WBR parish that might end at I-10 northwards to US 190 b/c that is a KEY alternate route that is often overlooked- the highway from I-49 in Opelousas is 4 lanes all the way into N.O. Plus I would appreciate a bridge in Plaquemine to connect both sides of the parish as is the case downriver in many places

[Anthony_JK]

Adding a four-lane arterial bridge across the Mississippi between Gardere and Plaquemine to connect LA 1 and LA 30 would be a nice bonus.

Anthony

I thought that was already part the southern part of the BR loop you stated above.  Mind you, they won't want any bridge too close to Gardere.  That's where the next casino is going to be built (Aproved by EBR parish, just waiting on the economy to improve before building)

It's actually one of the alignments still being considered...the one that most favor (except for those in Iberville Parish) is a crossing near Addis, in the southern portion of East Baton Rouge Parish.  All I would do is reduce the scope to an arterial or expressway other than a freeway/tollway.

I thought that Jindal had to sign off on any more casino construction in the state?


Anthony

[Anthony_JK]

I'm new, freshman at LSU, C.E. major. That's basically the MINIMUM that they need to do. Widening I-10 from Port Allen to the 10/12 split is impossible b/c ROW acquisition would be ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE HELL, besides a couple of bridges that might require complete rebuilding... one key to me is extending anything in WBR parish that might end at I-10 northwards to US 190 b/c that is a KEY alternate route that is often overlooked- the highway from I-49 in Opelousas is 4 lanes all the way into N.O. Plus I would appreciate a bridge in Plaquemine to connect both sides of the parish as is the case downriver in many places

The main issues I would see with widening I-10 within BR would be:

1) eliminating that choke point at the I-10/I-110 Split where the eastbound through lanes for I-10 get reduced to an auxilliary lane for the Washington St. exit;
2) renovating or replacing the bridges across University Lake at LSU;
3) resolving how to connect Perkins Road with the upgraded highway; and
4) configuring the one-way frontage roads between Acadian Thruway and the I-10/I-12 Split.

Not an easy task, I acknowledge...but doable....and probably much less expensive than this loop monstrosity.

Now...as for US 190 between Opelousas and BR (and Airline Hwy between BR and NOLA): well, there is a long term wishful thinking project in the state plan to upgrade US 190 to freeway standards between Opelousas and Port Allen which would tie in nicely with the northern portion of the "loop".  Probably not happening, since Port Barre, Krotz Springs, Livonia, and those other small towns on that corridor would cry foul over losing their speed trap revenues.


Anthony

[Anthony_JK]

[quoting from Annunciation70130]

I love this idea.  Don't know how feasible it is, but I love it.  It would have to be more feasible than the loop.

Upgrade LA-1 from the I-10 to LA 3127 and then 3127 to I-310.  That way they could direct all New Orleans and River Parish traffic that way.  I don't know if it will be "heavily" used outside of hurricane evacuations, but having people start using that route would knock off some traffic from the South BR stretch of I-10.  The I-10 at I-110 will still be a problem and so will the that stretch between I-110 and College.

I would think that it would be feasible....just build bypasses at Addis and Plaquemine, build an improved interchange connection with LA 70 at the foot of the Sunshine Bridge, and add a carriageway and upgrade LA 3127 all the way to I-310.

There is the issue of the UP RR ROW right alongside LA 1, but that could be easily resolved through frontage roads.


Anthony

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

I'm new, freshman at LSU, C.E. major. That's basically the MINIMUM that they need to do. Widening I-10 from Port Allen to the 10/12 split is impossible b/c ROW acquisition would be ABSOLUTE AND COMPLETE HELL, besides a couple of bridges that might require complete rebuilding... one key to me is extending anything in WBR parish that might end at I-10 northwards to US 190 b/c that is a KEY alternate route that is often overlooked- the highway from I-49 in Opelousas is 4 lanes all the way into N.O. Plus I would appreciate a bridge in Plaquemine to connect both sides of the parish as is the case downriver in many places

The main issues I would see with widening I-10 within BR would be:

1) eliminating that choke point at the I-10/I-110 Split where the eastbound through lanes for I-10 get reduced to an auxilliary lane for the Washington St. exit;
2) renovating or replacing the bridges across University Lake at LSU;
3) resolving how to connect Perkins Road with the upgraded highway; and
4) configuring the one-way frontage roads between Acadian Thruway and the I-10/I-12 Split.

Anthony

10/110/Washington St/Louise St interchanges.
Hardest part to reconstruct (for widening purposes).  I would expect the South BR community, which got raped with the original I-10 construction, will now want to keep access to I-10 versus having to drive up to Gov't St. Maybe duel exits for access between Washington St. and I-10/110.

University Lake Bridge/Dalrymple Dr exit.
The worse about LSU traffic is trying to find your way to I-10 EB (I know firsthand from my 3 years living on/next to the LSU campus).  The current interchange for Dalrymple Dr. is wedged inbetween University Lake, City Park, and a small subdivision south of I-10 (and west of Dalrymple) and allows for 3/4 complete movement (the missing contact in from Dalrymple to I-10 EB).  That exit will stay and if properties have to bought for widening, maybe enough land can be aquired to add in another loop to I-10 EB.

Perkins Rd
The story I recall being floated was that this (partial) interchange would be removed.  The sticking point here with widening is the comercial properties that have been constructed so close to I-10, especially now that area has become a destination for entertainment/shopping.

Acadian to the 10/12 Split.
Anthony mentioned the service roads.  Other than for the intersection of Constitution Ave & College Dr. this will be a minimal issue.  Maybe the state can throw in half a million to remove the Albertson grocery at SW corner of College & I-10 to allow the interchange to be reconfigured.

[Urban Prairie Schooner]

The best function a bypass would perform would be to remove the through truck traffic from the central freeway corridor. Just from casual observation of the I-10 Miss. River Bridge it seems that about 30-40% of overall traffic is tractor trailers and other freight vehicles. From what I understand the northern part of the loop would be built first based on projected traffic counts - seems counterintuitive (no access to I-10) until you view it in that aspect - the main flow of truck traffic follows I-10 to I-12 to bypass New Orleans. Of course it is the northern route that seems to be the most controversial as the residents of the city of Central are generally opposed to a new freeway cutting through their city and spoiling the rural ambiance of their community (as if ongoing residential development isn't already doing that piecemeal).

My own preference would be to see a "1/2 loop" bypass of either the northern or southern part of the city on a wide buffered "parkway" ROW with limited interchanges (major highways only) to facilitate through traffic and limit the amount of development that would inevitably result from access to a new freeway facility.

[eXfaktor]

I'm going to reference the interactive map to develop a FICTIONAL exit list for the NORTHERN section of the bypass... I don't want to call it a loop just yet, but the northern section may be the closest to being built as UP Schooner states. At an estimated $900 million at this point, citizens may be more willing and able to fund it... if Livingston doesn't pull out in the event Iberville or Ascension Parishes drop the project.

[eXfaktor]

of course I could use some HELP w/the routing from I-110 as to what kind of intersections to use...

[sammack]

The real reason a bypass has yet to be built around Baton Rouge? Louisianians don't understand math.
Politicians and the public (supposedly) are becoming scared of the cost involved?  Do they think concrete or asphalt grows on trees?! 
Part of the article, that I'm linking below, discusses one alternative to the BR Loop by building a West Bank Expressway from Port Allen (otherside of BR) down to Luling (and onto I-310 I suppose).  Wasn't there a proposal for a West Bank Expressway from the Huey Long Bridge (NOLA version) on up to.....(where?) in the 60s or 70s?
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/84363752.html?showAll=y&c=y

What ever happened to the old I-410?

That would have been an upgrading of Airline Hwy (US 61 and US 61-190) to interstate standards.  Also an interstate replacement for the existing US 61-190 Miss R Br

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

What ever happened to the old I-410?

That would have been an upgrading of Airline Hwy (US 61 and US 61-190) to interstate standards.  Also an interstate replacement for the existing US 61-190 Miss R Br

The old I-410 would have been a continuation of present day I-110 from US 190/61 west over the "old bridge" to a connector road in WBR parish between US 190 & I-10 (never built).
Airline Hwy, from 110 east (and south) had already, by the mid 60s already had too many commercial frontings to allow an ecconomical transition to freeway standards.
What you're thinking of is the "Yellow Book" map for Baton Rouge and that actually predates the Interstate system act of 1956 by 5-10 years. 
Thus why Airline Hwy, from Plank Rd on south, was never seriously considered interstate designation.

[sammack]

What ever happened to the old I-410?

That would have been an upgrading of Airline Hwy (US 61 and US 61-190) to interstate standards.  Also an interstate replacement for the existing US 61-190 Miss R Br

The old I-410 would have been a continuation of present day I-110 from US 190/61 west over the "old bridge" to a connector road in WBR parish between US 190 & I-10 (never built).
Airline Hwy, from 110 east (and south) had already, by the mid 60s already had too many commercial frontings to allow an ecconomical transition to freeway standards.
What you're thinking of is the "Yellow Book" map for Baton Rouge and that actually predates the Interstate system act of 1956 by 5-10 years. 
Thus why Airline Hwy, from Plank Rd on south, was never seriously considered interstate designation.

No, I just remember seeing a proposed I-410 on RMcN maps in the 60's over Airline,  e and n of BR.

Now that I am thinking about it, apparently it was moved to NO, that frwy prop s thru the swamps that would have connected 510 and 310.  It died a very quick and deserved death.

[froggie]

What you're thinking of is the "Yellow Book" map for Baton Rouge and that actually predates the Interstate system act of 1956 by 5-10 years.

Are you saying the routes on the Baton Rouge map predate the Interstate act by 5-10 years?  Because the Yellow Book itself is dated 1955, only one year prior.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

What you're thinking of is the "Yellow Book" map for Baton Rouge and that actually predates the Interstate system act of 1956 by 5-10 years.

Are you saying the routes on the Baton Rouge map predate the Interstate act by 5-10 years?  Because the Yellow Book itself is dated 1955, only one year prior.

No I'm saying ALL the maps in the Yellow Book predate the Interstate act by 5-10 years.
I'm saying the maps for the Yellow Book go back to Interregional Highways Book.
But from colecting maps of Cleveland, Columbus, and Baton Rouge that show the proposed routes (that we see in the Yellow Book) dating from the late 40s/early 50s. 
The Feds had to collect the local routings from somewhere.  It wasn't one person, or a group of 5, 10, or 48 drawing lines on paper in D.C.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

Not sure what I missed in the last month, but now (supposedly) all the surounding parishes are now against an (toll) interstate loop for Baton Rouge.
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/90809249.html?showAll=y&c=y

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

More politicians bad mouthing the loop proposal and pointing fingers. 
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/90905989.html?showAll=y&c=y

[Anthony_JK]

More trouble:  two members of the multiparish authority for the BR Loop resign; loop's future now on life support

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/91675114.html?showAll=y&c=y

And this idea of using the existing US 190 Misissippi River Bridge is just plain dumb...without the kind of refurbishment similar to the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans, and without upgrading the entire corridor to freeway standards, which would be a daunting task in and of itself, I don't see this idea flying too well.

Time to kill this idea for good; and use the savings to fund other needed programs....like, say, I-49 South between Lafayette and Morgan City.


Anthony

[eXfaktor]

And this idea of using the existing US 190 Misissippi River Bridge is just plain dumb...without the kind of refurbishment similar to the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans, and without upgrading the entire corridor to freeway standards, which would be a daunting task in and of itself, I don't see this idea flying too well.

Upgrading the bridge would be the backbreaker, but from the intersection with LA 415, US 190 has few commercial fronts that could be handled easily, and up to just past the Plank Road cloverleaf, the corridor is basically an expressway, so upgrading the area on the west bank would probably cost HALF of what it would take to update the bridge...

Time to kill this idea for good; and use the savings to fund other needed programs....like, say, I-49 South between Lafayette and Morgan City.

... 3/4 of what it would cost to upgrade the Huey P. Long Bridge (Baton Rouge version)

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

More trouble:  two members of the multiparish authority for the BR Loop resign; loop's future now on life support

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/91675114.html?showAll=y&c=y

And this idea of using the existing US 190 Misissippi River Bridge is just plain dumb...without the kind of refurbishment similar to the Huey P. Long Bridge in New Orleans, and without upgrading the entire corridor to freeway standards, which would be a daunting task in and of itself, I don't see this idea flying too well.

Time to kill this idea for good; and use the savings to fund other needed programs....like, say, I-49 South between Lafayette and Morgan City.


Anthony

Just about time to stick a fork in it.
Though the "Old Bridge" will have to be replaced by the end of the decade. Unless LaDOTD wants to do a truck detour.