DOTD holds ribbon-cutting for improvement projects on the Northshore
Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 6:44:21 PM
Projects resurfaced segment of I-10 and widened I-12 from Northshore/Airport Road to U.S. 11
SLIDELL, La. – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development’s Secretary Shawn Wilson, Ph.D. was joined by Northshore officials, including Slidell Mayor Freddy Drennan, and St. Tammany Parish councilmembers Gene Bellasario and Steve Stefancik at the Slidell Welcome Center for a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of approximately $60 million in DOTD projects on Interstates 10 and 12.
Both projects will significantly improve capacity, travel times, and safety for more than 150,000 daily commuters, in addition to optimizing roadway preservation.
Sec. Wilson said, “Due to age and the constant pounding from traffic, the roadway surface becomes distressed. It is important that we continue to build, maintain and promote an innovative multimodal interstate system that grows with our industry and business partners. The widening project will increase the capability of our partners that rely on this route to transport goods and services, and to do so more efficiently; thus, improving their bottom line.”
The project to overlay approximately 4.5 miles of Interstate10 from the French Branch Bridge to the West Pearl River Bridge involved replacing the pavement on the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange, as well as the pavement on I-10 eastward to the West Pearl River Bridge (near the Slidell Welcome Center) and short segments north, south and west of the interchange. It also performed geometric improvements to the I-59 north and southbound ramps where they merge with I-12 westbound. The work was performed by Barriere Construction Co., LLC.
James Construction Group was charged with widening 2.4 miles of I-12 from Northshore/Airport Road to U.S. 11 near the Gulf Mobile Railroad overpass. The project consisted of adding a travel lane in both directions, eastbound and westbound. The widening project was actually a continuation of a previous capacity improvement project, completed in 2012 at an investment of $25.6 million, which widened I-12 from four to six lanes from just west of Airport Road to the I-10/I-59/I-12 junction.
The I-10 and I-12 corridors are vital for east/west travel through Louisiana as well as into New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region, while the I-59 corridor provides easy access to neighboring Mississippi. Each are very critical corridors in St. Tammany Parish, particularly for the efficiency of hurricane evacuation operations.
In addition to travelers to and from Mississippi, there are several area industries within the corridors including rail, marine, technology, construction, energy, three health care facilities, four airports, and the ports of New Orleans and St. Bernard.
For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Custom Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at www.511la.org.
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