I-10 widening through Baton Rouge is moving forward

Only one business will be demolished, a hair salon.

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The report does confirm that three establishments in that area stand in the path of the widening project, and that one will be demolished. The report calls for acquiring and demolishing Fresh Salon on Christian Street, a small hair salon just off Perkins Road.

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The federal report, called a Finding of No Significant Environmental Impact, or FONSI, acknowledges in its section of “Areas of Controversy/Unresolved Issues” that “there is a general concern for the maintenance of access to businesses and parking in the Perkins Road overpass area during project construction.

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Some things to note is that two businesses will have to be modified (but NOT REMOVED) - in particular the shed behind the Overpass Merchant and the small covered patio at Ivar's. The historic Overpass Merchant will not be demolished or moved. Ivars will still be around after the widening as well, although it will be even closer to the I-10 span.

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The report also calls for acquiring and demolishing or removing the “modern addition” to The Overpass Merchant on Perkins Road and for removing the covered patio at Ivar’s, also on Perkins Road.

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IMO worth it, especially since there's talk of an outdoor recreation/entertainment area under the new spans that would be better than any patio.


LINK
And this is no surprise:

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• The total price tag for the project has ballooned to an estimated $1.1 billion.

• Access to a portion of the popular recreational path around City Park Lake that goes under I-10 will be impacted for an estimated “four to five years with some type of prohibition of passage underneath the bridges occurring approximately 20 to 25% of the time,” the report says.

• “Signature feature bridges” will be designed and constructed for the portion of I-10 that spans City Park Lake and also over I-10 at Nairn Drive, the latter of which will have pedestrian and bicycle accommodations as well as decorative screening and possible rest areas or bump outs.

• DOTD has made a commitment to provide additional parking, a multiuse path, and green space for businesses in the Perkins Road overpass area.

• The agency has also committed to seek funding from the state to construct noise barriers for neighborhoods that do not qualify for federal funding for barriers. The report notes that the funding is not guaranteed.

• Construction on the first phase of the widening could begin by the first quarter of 2023.

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The initial $300 million price tag was a joke to begin with; it was used as justification to allocate more funding to the interchange for the New Orleans airport.


Here are some prelims for the new Narin drive overpass and the spans over the city park lakes, which will have to be replaced.


Narin drive overpass:




Important to note: The plans call for a 14' sound wall along most of the length. You will not see the city park lakes from I-10 after it's done. In fact it will probably feel like you are driving in a concrete valley.