Originally Posted by Gary Smith
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The BR loop is long overdue so let's get on with the program. One thing that should be considered while trying to decide on a loop route is the effect that route will have on heavy / large commercial truck traffic through BR on the East West I10-I12 corridor. I firmly believe that if these trucks were removed from the I10-I12 East West corrigor, we would not have near the traffic problems that we do have now. As necessary as these vehicles are, they still clog up traffic just simply due to their large size. I strongly fear that we will not get these trucks off the East West I10-I12 corridor just by building a loop. Truckers who are East or West bound without going to New Oleans are not going to take a loop route that cost them time and money unless they have some incentive to do so. I propose that whatever route is chosen for the loop be done so with the idea in mind of inticing the trucker drivers off the through BR I10-I12 East West corridor, particularly during the hours of 7 to 9 AM and 3 to 6 PM. I do not have any suggestions on how this might be accomplished; even so, I say that whomever is thinking that truckers will take a by-pass just because it is a way to stay out of BR is denuding themselves and doing an injustice to those of us who have to travel that road every day during rush traffic. We must build something into this picture that gives truckers a reason to take a by-pass instead of going staight through.
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Gary, thats a very good point. I think the Loop will probably add 2 or 3 miles to the route through Baton Rouge. That being said, no way will these trucks opt for the longer route. You are correct about there really being no answer to the question of how to get them out of the main drag through Baton Rouge.
One thing does come to mind, however, and thats the fact that somehow, somewhere, someone didnt see fit to extend a 3 lane project all the way past Denham Springs. I mean, seriously, how could it not be as perilous as it is at the peak of afternoon traffic for I-12 to reduce its size by 1/3 at O'Neal Lane? I venture to say that if the 3 lanes extended out between Juban and Walker, afternoon traffic as well as morning traffic would be a fraction of the headache that it has been lately.
