re: Its a good thing we have that new bridge in St. Francisville...

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what about a by pass in lake charles and not B R??

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and New Orleans and Shreveport. Capital city though? Naaah

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There is a shite load of people that cross that bridge every morning/ evening

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Compared to the people who cross the Mississippi River bridge (the "New Bridge".. Horace Wilkinson bridge in BR) every morning, that bridge makes absolutely no sense.

From a financial point of view it blows my mind. Even when they decided to build that bridge. They decided to spend the money building that bridge instead of improving traffic where there is a lot more constant traffic. From a prioritization point, the St. Francisville ferry was just fine.

The New Bridge serves a lot more people. More times than not, the Dow traffic going into Baton Rouge in the evening is backed up, it's just a matter of how far it gets backed up. The intercoastal bridge has structure issues. Which had to work on last year and didn't allow 18 wheelers to travel on several weeks, they had to go all the way around through Grosse Tete. So when things get backed up, you have all these vehicles just sitting on the intercoastal bridge.

It's not unreasonable to think that one day, it could collapse. If that happens, then they will have to come up with the money to build a new one and to pay out a lot of money from lawsuits.

West Baton Rouge Parish had to reject 4 new neighborhoods because it would cost even more traffic issues, especially near 415.

This doesn't even cover the traffic issues people from Ascension and Livingston Parish, who come in and out of Baton Rouge, has to deal with. The money spent on that bridge, could have been put away, collecting interest, while plans for some type of traffic improvement (loop, etc) project got worked out for the Baton Rouge area.

Instead of electing state congress and reps, they should just do away with the government body, create regions within the state, hire a staff for each region to manage the problems within that region... Have meetings every two weeks, so the regions can get together and prioritize where money needs to be spent, etc.. Instead of having all of these people in office, who get projects done for political reasons while other areas can't get anything, because of political reasons. I know this is a somewhat extreme idea, but damn.. The current way hasn't made this state less shitty..

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sucks that br can’t figure out where to put a loop because of all the nimby’s

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Because every place that is suggested, there are people who go out and protest. The people who live in areas that will be affected, will receive a better than fair compensation.

I think it is stupid to let the minority of the people who will be affected, to have that much of a voice considering it will be beneficial to the majority of the people, who are affected by traffic on a daily basis. Hell, if they would give me the value of my house plus half then I wouldn't even ask any questions..

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Unless you mean Interstate 12 cutting across the Florida Parishes north of Lake Pontchartrain as a by-pass?

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I-12 takes a shite load of freight traffic out of New Orleans.

It is an effective by-pass for the south shore.

The problem in La. is we don't have comprehensive plans to build up our infrastructure. Plans to finance and plans in where to build roads and bridges.

Look at the Sunshine Bridge for example. It was opened in 1963, but it still isn't integrated into the interstate system in the East bank and it's 45 years later. Reality it should connect directly to I10 with an interchange and four lanes and continue east to Airline Hwy.

Look at the New Roads bridge, it should be four lanes to US 61 on the east side and four lanes to 190 on the west side to make it more accessible.

The failure to build a comprehensive plan to take full advantages of key bridges has really hurt the state.

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The problem in La. is we don't have comprehensive plans to build up our infrastructure.

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The problem in La. is that we keep electing the same idiots thinking things will change. If you want a new bridge, find somebody who will commit to building one and get them elected.

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Look at the New Roads bridge, it should be four lanes to US 61 on the east side and four lanes to 190 on the west side to make it more accessible.

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It doesn't connect to US-190 on the west side, it connects to LA 1.

The bridge deck is 4 lanes wide. The approaches are only 2 lanes, but have ample space for additional lanes when needed. They actually finished most of the earth work on the New Roads side to make it a 4 lane highway with substantial median. They don't need that right now though.

LA-1 in the New Roads area isn't 4 lanes either, but there's plenty of space for it until you get to the spillway. There isn't much traffic at all past Morganza. I don't even think they have shoulders north of the spillway.

ETA: The new bridge that they eventually build south of I-10 needs to have a 6 lane wide deck with enough space to stripe in 2 additional lanes.

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LA-1 in the New Roads area isn't 4 lanes either, but there's plenty of space for it until you get to the spillway.

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Technically, False River Drive in New Roads is part of LA 1 as well. There’s no room on that route to 4 lane back to 190.

If you’re talking about the LA 10 to LA 1 route there is room but it doesn’t connect to 190

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Why do you people populate this state and board? MOVE THE frick AWAY AND GET OFF OF TD IF YOU HATE THIS PLACE SO MUCH

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Oh we got a "True" fan here. A little lithium goes a long way dude.

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that bridge makes absolutely no sense.

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From a financial point of view it blows my mind. Even when they decided to build that bridge. They decided to spend the money building that bridge instead of improving traffic where there is a lot more constant traffic. From a prioritization point, the St. Francisville ferry was just fine.

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well perhaps this will help explain it to you:

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The Audubon Bridge’s construction was part of the state’s Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development Program, which was established by Act 16 of the 1989 legislative session. The program is funded with a dedicated 4-cents-per-gallon, voter-approved gas tax.

Mallett said the TIMED Program included 16 specific projects aimed at spurring economic development in Louisiana, not traffic congestion relief.

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the bridge serves its intended purpose as an economic development tool for the two parishes it connects

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if the four retarded parishes that rely on the MRB would get their shite together (on every level), they'd likely have a loop, a new bridge, and a bypass. Take your anger at the AB and funnel it towards your legislator. Maybe something will get better.