BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announced that a feasibility study has been initiated to identify a possible detour route for La. 70 in Assumption Parish and help to identify the cost. The detour route would serve as a primary solution for an alternate road to be built as DOTD continues to study options for the La. 70 bypass route. 

An environmental assessment for the alternate detour route has also begun and is expected to be completed within six to eight months. The corridor for the detour route has already been identified, and as the study progresses, DOTD will further refine its alignment.

DOTD’s feasibility study continues to determine if a long-term alternate bypass route could be built in the affected area, in the event that the existing roadway is compromised. Multiple alignments are being studied, including alignments around the salt dome cap and alignments around the entire salt dome. The study is expected to be complete in September 2013. The next step is the environmental assessment, which will take another eight months.

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 930 miles of interstate and 13,000 bridges, 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.

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www.dotd.la.gov