re: Which Baton Rouge-area bridge crossing option is the best?

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We should forego the bridge for now and deal with the underlining problem---total traffic on I-10.

We need a toll road running from I-59 through St. Fancisville on to intersect I-10 at Vinton. (Zack Taylor Parkway)

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IB is wrong about 85% of the time, but the idea of a "Louisiana turnpike" with few exits and tolled access running north of I-10/I-12 is actually a great idea.

100 years from now, twice the amount of freight as we see today will have to move on our congested highways and railways. A divided 4 lane turnpike with controlled exits at least 8-10 miles apart would help future-proof Louisiana's freight distribution network despite any amount of sprawl that would occur in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, or New Orleans (It's extremely unlikely that the proposed I-14 highway that would run through Alexandria and Natchez will ever be built).

That kind of turnpike setup works well in PA and NJ to discourage local traffic and provide a clear path for trucks. The key is to not allow an exit at every town or road crossing.

I'm 100% on board with what he is mentioning above, but I don't think it would eliminate the need for a new bridge around Plaquemine.

Bonus points if said turnpike went beyond I-59 and somehow tied into the highway network around Mobile. That would make freight movements on the gulf coast much more efficient and could take a lot of traffic off I-10 and I-12. There is simply too much dependency on I-10 and I-12 right now all over the gulf coast.

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A new bridge will not by itself alleviate the traffic clogs in BR.

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It could help tremendously, especially in building in system redundancy and alternative routes when things get clogged on the existing highway network.