The outside lane of U.S. 190 Eastbound at the Amite River Bridge will be closed on Thursday, March 11 and Friday, March 12 from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. each day to allow crews to make repairs to the temporary travel lane.

This closure will allow vehicles up to 11 feet wide to pass through the construction zone.  The road is open for regular traffic but oversize vehicles and loads are still under permit restrictions.  Motorists may use I-12 as an alternate route.

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

Northbound and southbound LA 3245 in Baton Rouge from I-12 to US 190 will be closed intermittently in both directions from Wednesday, March 3 to Friday, March 5. Lane closures will be allowed from 8:00pm to 5:00am the following day while crews install subsurface drainage under the existing roadway.

This closure will allow vehicles 12-feet wide or smaller to pass through the construction zone. Road is open for regular traffic but oversize vehicles are not permitted.

This lane closure is subject to change depending on adverse weather conditions.

Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the completion of the Lobdell Improvements Project, the 10th roadway construction project completed for the Green Light Plan, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010.

“Another Green Light project completed means another bottleneck has been opened up in Baton Rouge, and it means less time spent by our citizens sitting in traffic on high-volume, arterial roads,” said Mayor Holden. “The Lobdell Improvements Project is a perfect example of the Green Light system at work as we increase capacity to relieve congestion on our key roadways, working together with the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish to achieve a common goal.”

Completed on February 5, 2010, the project was constructed by Barber Brothers Contracting Co., LLC of Baton Rouge.  Through the public bid process, the firm was awarded the $4.1 million project to replace a three-lane undivided roadway with a four-lane curb and gutter roadway that includes sidewalks and raised median.  The project provides an improved north-south corridor and safer access into the Independence BREC Park and its school bus transfer station.

Ribbon Cutting Participants

From City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge:

Mayor-President Melvin L. “Kip” Holden

Mayor-Pro Tem Mike Walker

Metro Councilmember Alison Cascio, District 11

Mike Futrell, Chief Administrative Officer

From the Department of Public Works:

Peter Newkirk, P.E., Director

Bryan Harmon, P.E., Deputy Director / Chief Engineer

Ingolf Partenheimer, P.E., Deputy Director / Chief Traffic Engineer

Jose Alvarez, P.E., Chief Construction Engineer

From the Green Light Plan; CSRS, Inc.:

Michael Songy, P.E., Program Director

Brad Ponder, P.E., Program Manager

From the Engineering Consultant; Aillet Fenner Jolly & McClelland, Inc.:

Robert Isemann, P.E.

Jay Watson

From the Contractor; Barber Brothers Contracting Co., LLC:

Mr. Hilliard Barber

The inside lane of U.S. 190 Eastbound at the Amite River Bridge will be closed periodically from Wednesday, Feb. 17, through Wednesday, March 31, from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily. The closure is being put in place to allow crews to deliver materials to the project site.

In addition, the outside lane of U.S. 190 Eastbound at the Amite River Bridge will be closed Wednesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily to allow crews to make repairs to the temporary travel lane.

Both lanes will not be closed at the same time. The contractor will maintain one lane of traffic at all times.

This closure will allow vehicles up to 11 feet wide to pass through the construction zone. The road is open for regular traffic but oversize vehicles and loads are still under permit restrictions. Drivers may use I-12 as an alternate route.

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

With the possibility of snow and rain in the forecast throughout the Mardi Gras holiday weekend, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today that department staff is prepared to deal with winter weather.

Maintenance forces will be on standby to apply sand and salt over any affected bridges and roadways, to remove fallen trees from the roadway, and to close any roads as needed.

Interim Secretary Sherri LeBas urges motorists to take the threat of winter weather seriously. “In the event of adverse weather conditions, the department will strive to maintain access to Louisiana’s highways and interstates; however, we encourage the motoring public to avoid traveling during snow and ice, if at all possible,” said LeBas.

During winter weather conditions, the best thing motorists can do is drive slowly and carefully, and avoid driving while distracted. Always allow for extra driving time, reduce speeds when visibility is low, and make sure there is plenty of room between vehicles. Also, look out for black ice, which can form on bridges, overpasses, off-ramps and in shady spots. As always, DOTD reminds motorists to buckle up and refrain from drinking and driving.

Citizens can get the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions by using the 511 Traveler Information System simply by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region about which they are seeking information. Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at www.511la.org.

Motorists can also obtain information regarding road closures by contacting DOTD’s Customer Service Center at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (1-877-452-3683). The center is open 7:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Public Works Magazine, a nationally-distributed industry print and online publication “focused on the information needs of state and local governments and their professional partners as they operate, build, and maintain the infrastructure needs of the nation’s cities and towns” has released its January issue with a feature article on the highly successful East Baton Rouge Parish Green Light Plan.

The article, titled “Voter-supported growth”, focuses on the development of the transportation and street improvements program as it transitioned from a model developed by Mayor-President Melvin “Kip” Holden to solve the short-term transportation needs of Baton Rouge into the ultimate program design, public input, and eventual project groundbreaking phases.

“This feature article published by the nationally-recognized Public Works Magazine serves as yet another testament to the vision and success of the Green Light Plan for Baton Rouge,” said Holden.  “In acknowledging the success of the Green Light process and program, this article illustrates the Green Light Plan as a best practices model that cities and counties across the United States are now able to review and emulate.”

Public Works Magazine, a subsidiary of Hanley Wood Business Media, provides paid-subscription print publications along with free web and e-newsletter content to public works professionals and their professional partners across the country.  The magazine includes a print circulation readership consisting of over 65,000 monthly subscribers, 80 percent of which are municipal, county, state, or federal government public works professionals.

Public Works Magazine Online has also published a web-companion piece to serve as a supplement to the print article.  The companion piece focuses on the transportation summit convened by Mayor-President Holden during the early stages of his administration and details how this innovative summit of transportation experts helped shape the initial foundation of the components ultimately included within the Green Light Plan.

To access the online version of the article, please visit www.pwmag.com or access the article directly by visitinghttp://pwmag.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=770&articleID=1177481.  To access the web-companion piece, please visithttp://pwmag.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=760&articleID=1184145.

An Independence man was killed in a one vehicle crash in Livingston Parish on Monday evening.  Livingston Parish Deputies were called to the scene of the crash on Mary Kinchen Rd at approximately 7:30pm. When they arrived they found a GMC truck that had struck a tree and was rolled over onto its side. The lone occupant of the truck, 20 year old Brooks Colton Newell was trapped inside. Members of Fire Protection District’s 1 and 10 assisted in extricating Newell from the vehicle. Newell was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The cause of the accident is still unknown but is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division.

_____________________
Jason Ard
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) officially launched a new Web site today that will serve as a source for information related to construction on Interstates 10 and 12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes. The Web site, www.GeauxWider.com, is part of the department’s Geaux Wider Program – a multi-year $186 million construction initiative designed to increase capacity, improve safety and enhance mobility on I-10 and I-12 in the Baton Rouge metro area. The ongoing construction will add additional lanes on both interstates.

During the almost three years of construction, the Geaux Wider Program will provide drivers with information about the ongoing construction and its impact on traffic. The Web site features up-to-date travel information (including lane closures), an interactive map, the latest news, and background information related to the interstate construction. Drivers also can access updated information about the GeauxWider Program on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeauxWider1) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeauxWider).

As both I-10 and I-12 are critical to everyday travel for many people in the Baton Rouge area, DOTD developed the GeauxWider.com Web site as a “go-to” source for accurate, timely and consistent information about the construction. More than 200,000 drivers use Interstates 10 and 12 each day, and travel impacts on one interstate often affects the other.

“These projects will be under way for the next several years, so we hope drivers will come to rely on GeauxWider.com and the social media tools each day,” said DOTD Secretary Dr. William D. Ankner, Ph.D.  “Like the morning cup of coffee or checking the weather, before you go…GeauxWider.com.”

Adam Knapp, President and CEO of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) said, “BRAC developed a plan of priority infrastructure needs for attacking our region’s congestion crisis, and the Geaux Wider campaign is directly connected to funding that plan. The alleviation of traffic congestion ranks as one of the top issues for Baton Rouge area businesses every year in our annual survey of leaders.  The millions of driver hours that will be saved with the projects included in the Geaux Wider campaign give us the confidence that this issue is being addressed.  We encourage all Capital Region businesses to monitor this important campaign’s progress at GeauxWider.com.”

Scott Jones, Executive Director of Citizens For Highways & Infrastructure of Livingston Parish (CHILP) said, “It’s going to help Baton Rouge and nearby areas deal with the traffic we are faced with. We commend DOTD, the Governor and all the supporters for dedicating valuable resources to making this corridor better.”

Cathy Gautreaux, Executive Director of the Louisiana Motor Transport Association (LMTA), which represents 350 trucking and allied industry companies statewide, said, “Linking the I-10 and I-12 projects together makes good sense and will help us get the message out to the trucking industry about how we can plan for construction impacts along these important national freight corridors in Baton Rouge. We are entirely supportive of the widening projects because they will not only improve the corridor from a safety perspective but will allow us to deliver goods more efficiently to customers.”

The GeauxWider.com Web site features:

• Sign up for regular updates, submit comments, and contact the project team.
• Interactive map identifying traffic impacts.
• Project information with graphics showing construction phases.
• Information on ramp metering planned for I-12.
• The Geaux Wider Program includes the following segments of interstate that will be widened to six lanes:
• Interstate 10, from the I-10/12 split to Siegen Lane, which began in January 2009 and is slated for completion in the fall of 2011.
• Interstate 10, from the Siegen Lane interchange to Highland Road.
• Interstate 12, from the O’Neal Lane interchange to Pete’s Highway, which began May 2009 and is expected to finish in late 2011.

In addition, DOTD is currently considering proposals to extend the I-12 widening beyond Pete’s Highway to Juban Road.

The entire program is estimated to be completed in late 2012.

DOTD is offering to meet with interested groups and/or make presentations about the construction and the Geaux Wider Program.

For more information on this project, visit www.GeauxWider.com or call Louisiana DOTD Customer Service at 1-877-4LA-DOTD (452-3683).

On Monday, Jan. 25 at 5:30 p.m., workers plan to reopen South Harrell’s Ferry Road between Jones Creek Road and Manchester Drive after a two-week temporary closure as part of a Green Light Plan project to widen the roadway.

The closure was necessary to relocate a pipeline required to four-lane that stretch of South Harrell’s Ferry Road.  The roadway reopens on time and within the originally projected two-week timeframe.

Work began last September to widen that stretch of South Harrell’s Ferry Road as part of the Green Light Plan to relieve congestion on major traffic arteries in East Baton Rouge Parish.  The project will add two additional through lanes, sidewalks and a raised median to South Harrell’s Ferry Road from a point 1,100-feet east of Millerville Road to O’Neal Lane.  The project also calls for a new intersection at Jones Creek Road.

The South Harrell’s Ferry Segment 2 widening project will require a new drainage crossing and raised roadway at the Knox Branch crossing between Jones Creek Road and O’Neal Lane.  A future road closure will be scheduled to install an embankment and a new bridge at Knox Branch.

Other Green Light Plan projects are now under construction to widen Jones Creek Road from South Harrell’s Ferry Road to Coursey Boulevard, and South Harrell’s Ferry Road from Millerville Road to South Sherwood Forest Boulevard.

The Centurion Place Subdivision entrance at Coliseum Ave. from O’Neal Lane (LA 3245) was closed on Monday January 18 and it will remain closed today, Tuesday January 19. The entrance will not be accessible during this time while crews install cross drain pipes under Coliseum Ave. These cross drains are part of the new subsurface drainage system that is replacing the open ditches. These drains will improve the drainage in this area.

Motorists are to use Centurion Ave. for access to the subdivision.

This lane closure is subject to change pending adverse weather conditions.  Additional notices will be provided as necessary.

This construction is due in part to the widening project currently taking place on O’Neal lane between Florida Blvd and I-12. The current 2 lane roadway there is being upgraded to 4 lanes with a center turn lane, sidewalks and gutters. According to the State Department of Transportation’s website, the estimated time of completion for this leg of the O’Neal widening project is 12-31-10.

Today at 11:00 AM, Mayor Kip Holden hosted the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Flannery at Choctaw intersection improvement. This is the latest of the Green Light Projects to kick off in Baton Rouge.  This improvement project adds turn lanes at each approach of the intersection, straightens the alignment of N. Flannery, and widens the existing S. Choctaw at Lively Bayou Bridge.

Project Information (click)

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) considered bids totaling more than $67 million at its Dec. 16 public bid opening, according to Gov. Bobby Jindal and DOTD Secretary William D. Ankner, Ph.D.

With a bid of $20,160,138.41, Barriere Construction Co. LLC, Boutte, was the low bidder on the most expensive job let Dec. 16, a project in Orleans Parish calling for installing drainage pipe, asphalt overlay and related work on General Degaulle Drive at its intersection with Wall Boulevard, Life Center Drive, Seine Court, Westbend Parkway, Behrman Place and MacArthur Boulevard.

Other projects awarded are listed below by parish(es), description, contractor and bid:

Acadia – Asphalt overlay and related work on La. 342 from the Lafayette Parish line to La. 35, H & S Construction Co. Inc., Broussard, $318,658.35.

Allen – Asphalt overlay, installing a concrete girder span bridge and related work to replace a bridge on Arkadelphia Road over Six Mile Creek, Gilchrist Construction Co. LLC, Alexandria, $1,239,669.90.

Bienville – Installing drainage pipe, asphalt overlay and related work on La. 4 from Loggy Bayou to Ringgold, Madden Contracting Co. Inc., Minden, $2,827,913.24.

Bienville, Caddo, Claiborne, Webster – Scour repairs and related work at the U.S. 80 Mile Creek Bridge; the U.S. 171 Boggy Bayou Bridge; the U.S. 79 Bayou D’Arbonne Bridge; and the I-20 Bear Creek Relief Bridge, Specialty Trackhoe & Dozer Service Inc., Shreveport, $490,889.50.

Concordia – Asphalt overlay, pavement patching and related work on La. 129 from Workinger Bayou to U.S. 84, D & J Construction Co. Inc., West Monroe, $1,732,968.17.

Concordia – Clearing and grubbing, installing a concrete slab span bridge and related work to replace the Turtle Lake Bridge, Gilchrist Construction Co. LLC, Alexandria, $559,599.

DeSoto – Installing drainage pipe, asphalt overlay, pavement patching and related work on La. 172 from the Texas state line to La. 5, Benton & Brown LLC, Minden, $3,273,024.55.

East Baton Rouge – Asphalt overlay and related work on La. 30 from La. 73 to just south of Skip Bertman Drive, F.G. Sullivan Jr. Contractor, Baton Rouge, $2,436,353.04.

Evangeline, Lafayette – Sealing asphalt pavement and related work on La. 13 from La. 10 to La. 106, and on La. 3168 from La. 93 to U.S. 90, P.R. Parker Company Inc., Shreveport, $455,740.73.

Lafayette – Installing drainage pipe, asphalt overlay, concrete overlay, pavement patching, installing a concrete slab span bridge and related work to widen U.S. 90 from four to six lanes from Pinhook Road to Broussard, Diamond B Construction Co. LLC, Alexandria, $19,895,009.49.

Madison – Asphalt overlay, pavement patching and related work on U.S. 65 from Walnut Bayou to U.S. 80, Diamond B Construction Co. LLC, Alexandria, $1,035,811.57.

Ouachita – Asphalt overlay and related work on the I-20 eastbound on-ramp to U.S. 165 northbound, Gilchrist Construction Co. LLC, Alexandria, $420,548.90.

Ouachita – Replacing the deck on La. 3249 Well Road Bridge over I-20, Gibson & Associates Inc., Balch Springs, Texas, $3,174,512.01.

Rapides – Upgrading guardrail and related work on the Pineville Expressway, Odum Services LP, Marshall, Texas, $405,020.

Rapides, Sabine – Replacing bridge expansion joints and related work on U.S. 167 over U.S. 71; on U.S. 171 over Bayou San Patricio; and on I-49 over U.S. 71, Gibson & Associates Inc., Balch Springs, Texas, $183,504.

Sabine – Asphalt overlay, pavement patching and related work on La. 473 from La. 191 to the Vernon Parish line, Prairie Contractors Inc., Opelousas, $873,975.70.

Terrebonne – Asphalt overlay, pavement patching and related work on La. 57 from Bobtown Bridge Road to Dulac, Huey Stockstill Inc., Picayune, Miss., $992,018.90.

Terrebonne – Installing fiber optic cables and related work on phase III of the Houma ITS Deployment Project, Diamond Electrical Co. Inc., Baton Rouge, $1,043,623.50.

Ferry Operations – Replacing the engine on the M/V Ascension ferry, Bollinger Quick Repair LLC, Harvey, $308,579.