A photo of construction from E Lakeshore Drive facing I-10 City Park Lake bridge.

About

The project widens I-10 through Baton Rouge.

Construction on this project began in February 2022 and is now occurring within Phase 1 located east of the Mississippi River.

Project Scope

I-10 Widening project area map extending from LA 415 to the I-10 and I-12 split, omitting the Mississippi River Bridge.

The overall project extends approximately nine miles from LA 415 in West Baton Rouge Parish to Essen Lane on I-10 and I-12 in East Baton Rouge Parish. It passes through the heart of Baton Rouge, where it will replace 60+-year-old infrastructure approaching end of life. Portions of the current highway do not meet current interstate design standards and the project will remedy this. The I-10 Horace Wilkinson Mississippi River Bridge itself is not part of this project.

The improvements occurring within Phase 1 include the following:

  • Capacity increase – add a fourth interstate travel lane in both directions
  • Widening of the I-10 westbound “flyover” curve to the Mississippi River Bridge above I-110 southbound
  • Closure of the eastbound Washington Street exit and redesign of exit to Dalrymple Drive
  • Removal of the westbound on ramp from Louise Street
  • Adjustments to the I-110 southbound exit ramp to I-10 westbound
  • New “slip ramp” and service road from Lorri Burgess Avenue to Dalrymple Drive (an extension of one-way Braddock Street)
  • Roundabouts on surface streets:
    • Dalrymple Drive at E. Lakeshore Drive and the I-10 west on-ramp
    • Two roundabouts on Lorri Burgess Avenue, positioned east and west of elevated I-10 respectively
    • Terrace Avenue at Braddock Street
  • Noise walls (contingent on funding)

Project Benefits

  • Increase capacity by the addition of a fourth through-lane to both directions of I-10 through Baton Rouge
  • Widening or provision of auxiliary lanes and shoulder improvements
  • Reconfiguration of interchanges to extend acceleration and deceleration lanes, reduce or eliminate possible weaving movements, and provide required distances between entrance and exit ramps
  • Capacity improvements to adjacent surface streets including S. Acadian Thruway and Greenwood Drive, and roundabouts at several street intersections to improve flow
  • Community enhancements in the form of Context Sensitive Solutions within State right of way:
    • New I-10 bridge over City Park Lake featuring signature aesthetic treatments
    • New Nairn Drive bridge over I-10 providing pedestrian and bike improvements, and signature aesthetic treatments
    • Greenway and related plazas, parking and landscaping beneath the Washington bridge (Lorri Burgess Avenue) area
    • Perkins Overpass area improvements including paved parking, nighttime lighting, multi-use path, and extension of Greenwood Drive

This I-10 widening through Baton Rouge is one of several regional mega-projects which, collectively, can favorably address recurring traffic congestion in the capital region.