Okay. The, the additions that I want to make is that everything I said earlier pre-supposed that the only thing that was going to be done was the, the interstate without looking at the possibilities that — of having to improve the current situation and then adding a new bridge, not instead of, but at adding the new bridge. And, and everything that goes with the new bridge that I said.
The reasoning for that is that, is they mentioned several times the congestion is going to grow and continue. And so the project at present, the one that was explained, has some very good details and some very good possibilities and is necessary for improvement of the current interstate. And the only thing that I really object to is the four laning part. I think the four lanes are unnecessary and it’s a waste of money there that could be spent on looking at the idea of a new bridge connecting from 415 to the south of — to east of the city and connecting into 10 at — and 12 and Ascension and Livingston. The, the cost will be modified a bit, I think, by eliminating the four lanes and shifting that over.
So that’s the correction that I would make. I started — my earlier comment sort of indicated that it was an either/or situation. I don’t think that would work, but I do think taking care of the present we need to push toward the future, and that includes improving what we have, but not quite in the same way, and adding a new bridge and connection, call it Interstate 210, or whatever you want to call it, sort of a, a loop, half loop, from the west side to the east side.
And so commendations to the planning, but let’s do a little bit more. Now, I also think if we don’t include that, the idea of a new bridge and a new highway, it will be pushed out for another 50 years, and then we’ll be in the same situation we’re in now, too late, too much more, let’s do it right and do it over the period that we’re looking with.
Response:
Thank you for your comments. DOTD is in the process of studding additional Mississippi River crossings to assist in the alleviating the traffic congestion; however, a new bridge is years away from approval and construction. The proposed project allows for additional capacity to be added in the near term with minimal right-of-way acquisition and environmental impact; it is part of a larger vision to reduce congestion and improve travel time on I-10 through the Baton Rouge area. During the Stage 0 Feasibility Study for this project, alternative regional transportation improvements were considered during the traffic study including a new southern Mississippi River Bridge crossing and a Northern Bypass. Though these megaprojects will provide improved traffic flow through the Baton Rouge metro area, the I-10 Improvement through Baton Rouge is necessary to help alleviate congestion through the area.
Comment:
Okay. The, the additions that I want to make is that everything I said earlier pre-supposed that the only thing that was going to be done was the, the interstate without looking at the possibilities that — of having to improve the current situation and then adding a new bridge, not instead of, but at adding the new bridge. And, and everything that goes with the new bridge that I said.
The reasoning for that is that, is they mentioned several times the congestion is going to grow and continue. And so the project at present, the one that was explained, has some very good details and some very good possibilities and is necessary for improvement of the current interstate. And the only thing that I really object to is the four laning part. I think the four lanes are unnecessary and it’s a waste of money there that could be spent on looking at the idea of a new bridge connecting from 415 to the south of — to east of the city and connecting into 10 at — and 12 and Ascension and Livingston. The, the cost will be modified a bit, I think, by eliminating the four lanes and shifting that over.
So that’s the correction that I would make. I started — my earlier comment sort of indicated that it was an either/or situation. I don’t think that would work, but I do think taking care of the present we need to push toward the future, and that includes improving what we have, but not quite in the same way, and adding a new bridge and connection, call it Interstate 210, or whatever you want to call it, sort of a, a loop, half loop, from the west side to the east side.
And so commendations to the planning, but let’s do a little bit more. Now, I also think if we don’t include that, the idea of a new bridge and a new highway, it will be pushed out for another 50 years, and then we’ll be in the same situation we’re in now, too late, too much more, let’s do it right and do it over the period that we’re looking with.
Response:
Thank you for your comments. DOTD is in the process of studding additional Mississippi River crossings to assist in the alleviating the traffic congestion; however, a new bridge is years away from approval and construction. The proposed project allows for additional capacity to be added in the near term with minimal right-of-way acquisition and environmental impact; it is part of a larger vision to reduce congestion and improve travel time on I-10 through the Baton Rouge area. During the Stage 0 Feasibility Study for this project, alternative regional transportation improvements were considered during the traffic study including a new southern Mississippi River Bridge crossing and a Northern Bypass. Though these megaprojects will provide improved traffic flow through the Baton Rouge metro area, the I-10 Improvement through Baton Rouge is necessary to help alleviate congestion through the area.