Mandeville – Today, Governor Bobby Jindal participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of construction on the La. 1088 interchange at I-12 in St. Tammany Parish. The ceremony was held at Cornerstone Church where the Governor was joined by Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri H. LeBas and state and local officials.

Governor Jindal said, “We have invested more than $122 million in transportation projects throughout St. Tammany Parish. The completion of this project will improve access to I-12 for residents and businesses in the area and will provide a direct route to the newly-built Lakeshore High School. We’ll continue to invest dollars and break ground on infrastructure projects across the state that benefit our economy and improve the quality of life for our communities.”  

The project added eastbound and westbound on-ramps and off-ramps to I-12 at La. 1088. The road segment was also widened from one to two lanes in each direction at I-12. Approximately $2.4 million in 2009 surplus funding was invested by the Jindal administration to draw down federal funding for the $12.2 million project. Construction began in January 2010.

DOTD Secretary Sherri H. LeBas said, “The new interchange at La. 1088 will help to reduce traffic congestion by giving over 42,000 motorists in the growing areas of St. Tammany Parish yet another access point to I-12.”

Senator Donahue said, "This project is a remarkable testament to what can happen when we work together.  The inter-agency cooperation and interfacing between the local, state and federal governments has put this interchange from planning to reality.  This project will not only improve traffic flow but will open up new corridors for economic development and contribute greatly to public safety and quality of life.  I’m very appreciative to Gov. Jindal and to Parish President Davis for their work in making this happen, and I’m very proud to be here today."

Representative Tim Burns said, "I'm very happy that this much needed project will provide another north/south option to residents and help ease traffic on highway 59 as well as assist with traffic to Lake Shore High School."

St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis said, “We are very pleased that this project has been such a success. Creating a new interchange on an interstate system is never an easy task, and this has been a coordinated effort between St. Tammany Parish, LA DOTD, Barriere Construction, and our entire legislative team.  I want to thank everyone involved for a job well done.  The 1088 interchange will open up this area, reduce traffic flow on congested roadways, and provide much needed access to one of our new schools.”

Improvements to I-12, such as the completed La. 1088 Interchange and the current project to widen I-12 in Slidell from the I-10/I-12/I-59 interchange to west of the Vincent’s Bayou Bridge, enhance economic development opportunities for the parish and state, provide safer travel for motorists, and create a better evacuation route in the event of a hurricane.

Since taking office in 2008, the Jindal administration has dedicated approximately $260 million for projects on I-12 throughout Louisiana with approximately $67 million in St. Tammany Parish. Statewide, the Governor has announced $3.6 billion in state and federal funds in transportation and road projects.

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