BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced today that work will begin on the I-10 widening and Picardy Avenue Interchange project on Monday, April 19.  The $40 million project is aimed at reducing congestion on I-10 at Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen Lane.  The project involves the creation of two, one-way frontage roads running east and west along I-10 between Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen Lane and the widening and reconstruction of I-10 between these two roads. 

            The project will be undertaken in six phases and should be completed by late summer of 2006.  Periodic lane closures will occur, but will be limited to night time hours (8 p.m. - 6 a.m.) on Sundays through Thursdays.  At all other times, two lanes of traffic will be maintained.  No lane closures will be allowed on weekends (between 6 a.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Sunday) or on holidays. 

            The contractor for the project is James Construction Group, LLC.  In order to minimize the duration of the project and its impact on motorists, DOTD is providing an incentive for each day of early completion.  The maximum, total incentive payment that may be earned is $900,000.  The project is being funded with federal, state and local monies.  DOTD’s Project Engineer for the project is Mike Vosburg, who may be reached at (225) 231-4123.

            Motorists are urged to drive carefully through the construction work zones.  Delays of 20 minutes should be anticipated and speed limits will be reduced to 50 miles per hour for the duration of the project.  DOTD’s Motorist Assistance Patrols will continue to patrol the area throughout the project’s duration.

For more information on this project: