DOTD preparing for Arkansas Road widening
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 9:37:01 AM
Press Release
3/18/2014
Contact: Marshall Hill 318-342-0101
DOTD preparing for Arkansas Rd widening
 
MONROE, La. - The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced later this summer, bids will be taken on a project that will involve clearing right-of-way and relocating utilities on Arkansas Road (La. 616).  The project is the first of two associated with the Arkansas Road widening and will take place from Warren Drive to La. 143.
 
The clearing project will allow for construction on Arkansas Road to begin while the remainder of right-of-way for the project is acquired.
 
In spring 2015, the second project associated with the Arkansas Road widening will go to bid and is estimated to cost $20-$25 million.  This project will widen the existing two-lane roadway to a five-lane roadway (four through lanes and continuous center turn lane) from Caldwell Road to La 143. 
 
Additionally, this project will replace four existing signalized intersections at Forty Oaks Farm Road, Good Hope Road, Kiroli Road and La. 617 (Warren Drive) with roundabouts.  Roundabouts are one-way circular intersections designed to improve safety and efficiency for motorists by reducing conflict points, such as left turns, which cause T-bone crashes at traditional intersections.  Initially, roundabouts were not part of the original scope of the project; however, they were added to the design due to their significant safety features. 
 
Since July 2012, DOTD has been in the process of purchasing right-of-way outside the proposed roundabout areas.  The revised right-of-way maps have now been completed allowing DOTD to begin right-of-way acquisition in the areas of the roundabouts.
 
Bids for the clearing and utility relocation project will be taken in August 2014.  Work is expected to begin in the fall and will take approximately one year to complete.  Staging the construction will allow both utility relocation and construction to take place at the same time.  The project is estimated to cost $500,000 to $1 million.