RUSTON, La. – Today, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the City of Ruston participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the intersection improvement project located at U.S. 80 (Georgia Ave.) and U.S. 167 in Lincoln Parish. The ceremony was held at Ruston City Hall. DOTD District Administrator Marshall Hill and Ruston Mayor Dan Hollingsworth were joined by Senator Kostelka and Representative Shadoin.

The U.S. 80 at U.S. 167 intersection improvement project widened the existing two-lane roadway to three lanes to help alleviate congestion through the area. Awarded to Amethyst Construction, Inc. for $609 thousand, work on this capacity project began in August 2012 and was completed earlier this week. Funding for this project consists of a combination of both federal and state funds.

DOTD District Administrator Marshall Hill said, "We continually work with state representatives and local communities to improve traffic flow and increase safety. Since 2008, Governor Jindal has committed over $29 million in transportation projects for Lincoln parish."

"There has been good collaboration between the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development and the City of Ruston," said Mayor Dan Hollingsworth. "The city provided the engineering and property acquisition for the project, and the state managed the construction. Thank you to Marshall Hill and his staff, who were very helpful to correct our traffic concerns. The shared goal and investment in the venture made this project run very smoothly."

"Businesses will certainly benefit from the increased capacity, and their employees will experience improved travel times and increased safety," said Senator Bob Kostelka.

"The improvements along this corridor will help stimulate economic growth throughout the community by providing improved access and increased business reach and accessibility," said Representative Robert Shadoin.

Since taking office in 2008, the Jindal administration has invested more than 4.6 billion for transportation projects throughout Louisiana, which translates into more than 1,900 transportation system improvement projects, including roughly 4,600 miles of roadway and 446 bridges. Additionally, Louisiana’s backlog of road and bridge projects has been reduced by nearly $2 billion, from $14 billion to $12.1 billion.

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (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 visit www.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.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).