re: Today's Advocate headline, "I-10 widening garners little enthusiasm"

quote:

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by wickowick
I think it needs to happen, but another bridge near Plaqumine should have priority over this...

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They are supposed to be building one down in White Castle. That was the plan when they put up the one at St. Francisville area.

quote:

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I think it needs to happen, but another bridge near Plaqumine should have priority over this...

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A new bridge should be THE priority. While correcting the fricktardery that is the Washington Exit/MergeOfDeath would help a good bit, the main problem is that the system just can't handle the sheer volume of local AND pass-through traffic. With the way the interstates wind through the middle of everything, you simply can't build an intra-city loop that would pull enough traffic off the interstates to matter unless it:

1. Reaches as much of the area as the interstates
2. Is all concrete (thus more durable and better maintained)
3. Has no traffic lights
4. Has the same speed limit

... and even then it would be totally fricked if there is a wreck on one of the interstates.

So the first priority must be a new bridge. After that you have to build out a southern loop (from at least between Lobdell & Gross Tete, down to St. Gabe, across to Prairieville then up to Livingston). Make Hwy 30 4 or 6-lanes up until it becomes Nicholson (maybe have the extra two lanes peel off at the Nicholson/Burbank intersection) then run some roads west out of the Brusly/Addis corridor to give relief to that stretch of LA 1.

Those are the things that will draw traffic away from passing through Baton Rouge and that re-direction is what will make the most long-term and meaningful impact.

After that they should look at things like Washington Street and the bizarre way they added the third lane to 10 at the 10/12 intersection.