Anyone from the Southeast part of East Baton Rouge Parish that has ever had a donut, has more than likely had one of Jay’s Donuts. Jay’s has been a part of Southeast Baton Rouge since the mid 70s and was originally located on Cedarcrest near Airline. The bakery now sits on the corner of South Harrell’s Ferry and O’neal and has been there since 1987. Aside from great pastry products including donuts, muffins and king cakes, Jay’s is well known in the area for the quirky messages he often puts up on his sign out front  poking fun at current political topics or issues around Baton Rouge. Unfortunately, however, because of a current roadway project in Baton Rouge, Jay’s will be forced to close his doors at the current location. The Baton Rouge Green Light Plan is currently executing the much needed upgrade to the intersection on which Jay’s Donuts is located. South Harrell’s Ferry Road at O’Neal Lane is being widened to a full 4 lane intersection, which is a part of a full 4 lane upgrade to O’Neal in both directions and Harrell’s Ferry Road to the west, all the way to it’s intersection with Sherwood Forest Blvd. If you live in the area (as I do) and have to use O’Neal Lane daily, then infrastructure improvements such as these are a very welcomed site. However, if you live in the area and are a regular customer at Jay’s Donuts, then you are also sad that there are some unwelcome results to the expansion we so desperately need.  Unfortunately, since Jay’s is located on such a small piece of property, once the city buys all the land they need for the road expansion, there will not be enough left for Jay’s to continue to operate.

Jay’s owner, Jay Lindsey has a current offer on the table from the City Parish, for his property, losses and relocation expenses. After speaking with Jay briefly at a recent meeting, he is concerned that the offer made to him will not be sufficient enough to relocate his donut shop to a comparable location. When eminent domain takes enough of a portion of property that the current business located there has to relocate, it is the responsibility of the city government to supply the owner with enough money to relocate his establishment to a comparable location and a comparable facility. Jay is currently looking at other possible locations in East Baton Rouge Parish, but will not be moving forward with any plans until he settles up with the City Parish.  The grim side of these situations for business/property owners  is that whether or not you agree with what the City offers you for the hassle of closing, rebuilding and relocating, you must be gone, one way or another, on the date that they set forth. For Jay’s, this date is March 28th, which is currently displayed on his sign out front.

For local Jay’s fans, Jay says that he has not found anywhere in the immediate area that he feels is a good enough location to rebuild, so it looks like even if he continues to carry on the Jay’s tradition, residents of the Jones Creek, Shenendoah, White Oak Landing and St. Jean area will have to travel a good bit to enjoy those hot donuts they have grown so accustomed to having. We will keep you posted on the Jay’s Donuts story as it continues to unfold, so stay tuned here for the latest updates. In the meantime, if you have a Facebook account, you can join the Jay’s Donuts page by clicking here.

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.

Beginning Monday, January 11th at 5 a.m., workers plan to close South Harrell’s Ferry Road between
Jones Creek Road and Manchester Drive for two weeks as part of a Green Light Plan project to widen the
roadway.

The closure is necessary to relocate a pipeline required to four-lane that stretch of South Harrell’s Ferry
Road. Plans call for the road to reopen to the traveling public on Monday, January 25th, weather
permitting.

Motorists should use Jones Creek Road, George O’Neal Lane and O’Neal Lane as detours during the
planned two-week closure. (See map in attachment.) Access to South Harrell’s Ferry Road from Lirocchi
Drive will also be closed during that period with a detour provided to O’Neal Lane.
Message signs warning of the closure will be posted near South Harrell’s Ferry Road, and motorists
should exercise caution when traveling in the vicinity. Travel times may be affected, and motorists are
encouraged to factor in potential delays when traveling in the area during the two-week closure.
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 with
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.

Well it appears that there is another HUGE 4 lane project underway in South Baton Rouge. After perusing the greenlight plan website i’ve learned that South Harrells Ferry Rd from Sherwood Forest all the way to Millerville Rd will be upgraded to 4 lanes. That will make Harrells Ferry a complete 4 lane thoroughfare from Sherwood Forest all the way to the east side of Oneal Lane. This will be a nice relief to that same area of I-12, which we all know is the largest parking lot in Baton Rouge.

Living in this general area, I was glad to hear about this upgrade, which is currently in the works (Planning 100%, Design 100%, R.O.W. 70%, Construction 0%), however, I do not think the upgrade at Harrels Ferry and Sherwood Forest was the most intelligent decision for this particular interchange.  For east bound traffic exiting at Sherwood Forest and wishing to continue east bound on S. Harrells Ferry, a right turn onto Sherwood Forest then a left turn onto Harrells Ferry Rd is required. I cannot understand why Harrells Ferry Rd wasn’t straightened out completely to intersect with Sherwood perpendicularly and eliminating the need for interstate traffic to have to use Sherwood Forest. An intersection similar to College @ I-10 where east bound traffic can exit the interstate and proceed directly onto Constitution would have been a grand idea. I’m certain that when this 4 lane project is complete it will prove to be a very inviting change of scenery for thousands of drivers. At that point i’m afraid that this error in design will really start to cost drivers who wish to use this thoroughfare.

Nonetheless, I will welcome, with open arms, this upgrade. I have driven the old 2 lane Harrells Ferry Rd for 25 years now and its a wonder I havent driven off the edge of it and went off into the ditch. Dodging orange barrels for a year or so is a small price to pay in this case.