BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will hold a public meeting on the I-10 widening project on Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at St. George Catholic Church, located at 7808 Saint George Drive off of Siegen Lane. Construction began on Jan. 5 and will be complete by fall 2011.

The meeting is being held to allow the public to learn more about the project and to sign-up to receive periodic e-mail updates on the project’s progression. Representatives from DOTD and Austin Bridge and Road LP will be in attendance to provide information on the project and answer any questions.

The $86.2 million project will widen I-10 from four lanes to six lanes from the I-10/I-12 split to approximately 1,500 feet past the Siegen Lane overpass. It will encompass previous work that was completed during the I-10 Picardy Interchange project that widened a portion of I-10 between Bluebonnet Boulevard and Siegen.

DOTD will also rebuild the bridge over Ward Creek between Essen Lane and Bluebonnet Boulevard. The new bridge will be approximately two feet higher than the current bridge and allow additional clearance in preparation for higher water levels in the creek due to increased run-off caused by future development in the area.

To get to St. George Catholic Church, take I-10 east to Siegen Lane (exit 163). Take a right on Siegen Lane. Travel down Siegen Lane to the St. George Drive/Siegen Marketplace exit. Make a u-turn at the turnout before the overpass to get on to St. George Drive. St. George Catholic Church will be located on the left-hand side of the road. Parking will be available at the church.