BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation (DOTD) today announced that the Port Vincent Roundabout at La. 42 and La. 431 in Ascension Parish will open to traffic tomorrow.

While additional work remains, drivers will use the roundabout movement for the first time to travel to and from Port Vincent on La.42 and La. 431. In the coming months, there will be additional lane closures as the final layers of asphalt are applied and lighting is installed.

Roundabouts are an innovative and cost effective tool that offers a smoother flow of traffic with less stop-and-go than a signalized intersection. They increase safety with lower speeds and typically less severe crashes. Statistics show that roundabouts can reduce fatalities by up to 90 percent and injury crashes by up to 75 percent.

Work on the $1.24 million project began in February 2012.

DOTD is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visitwww.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer 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.