HAMMOND, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), Hammond Mayor Mayson Foster and the Hammond City Council held a ceremony today to celebrate the completion of the La. 1040 relocation project.

The original alignment of La. 1040 tied into U.S. 51 (S. Morrison Boulevard) and was within a few hundred feet of the intersection of U.S. 190 (West Thomas Street) and U.S. 51.  The 1.13-mile safety project helped to mitigate congestion by moving the intersection of La. 1040 and U.S. 51 approximately a half mile further south to connect with Corbin Road.  In addition, the traffic light at the original location where La. 1040 meets U.S. 51 was removed, and the old intersection is now a “right-in/right-out” only intersection.  Southbound U.S. 51 traffic is permitted to turn right at the original intersection of La. 1040 and U.S. 51, but northbound traffic is not permitted to turn left.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, hosted by Mayor Foster, began at 10 a.m. at the intersection of the new roadway and Old Baton Rouge Highway.  Speakers included DOTD Deputy Secretary Sherri LeBas, Hammond City Councilmember Kathy Montecino and Steve Chauvin.

“I am excited to be here today to mark the completion of this project,” said LeBas. “The new configuration of La. 1040 will help to ease congestion for the 10,000 plus drivers who use this roadway each day.”

Work on the $1.5 million project began in July 2009. The contractor for the project was Byron E. Talbot Contractor, Inc.

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