DOTD breaks ground on capacity project in Slidell
Thursday, April 09, 2015 at 11:52:18 AM
Project will widen I-12 from North Shore/Airport Road to U.S. 11
SLIDELL, La. – Today, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri H. LeBas hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to announce the start of a $20.6 million capacity project in Slidell.
The ceremony was held at the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Administration Building where DOTD was joined by local officials.
Sec. LeBas said, “It is important that our interstate system continues to grow with our industry and business partners. This capacity project will provide safer, more efficient travel for more than 85,000 motorists using this portion of Interstate 12 on a daily basis.”
The project will widen approximately 2.4 miles of I-12 from North Shore/Airport Road to U.S. 11, adding a travel lane in each direction. The effort is a continuation of a project completed in 2012 at an investment of $25.6 million that widened I-12 from four to six lanes, from just west of Airport Road to the I-10/I-59/I-12 junction.
Industries utilizing and servicing the corridor include air, rail, marine, technology, construction and energy. There are four regional airports in the vicinity of the project limits – Slidell, George R. Carr in Bogalusa, Greater St. Tammany, and Franklinton. Additionally, both New Orleans area airports, Lakefront and Louis Armstrong International, also operate on the North Shore.
“Projects such as these help to shore up our infrastructure and add value in many ways. Time, of course, is top commodity we all need more of and that this project will provide,” said Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish President. “It will also increase the capability of companies that rely on this road to transport goods and services, and to do so more efficiently; therefore, saving money and increasing the cost-effectiveness of running their businesses.”
Brenda Bertus, CEO, St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation said, “Companies in our parish need room to grow. This [project] will make it even more desirable and strengthen our parish’s power to attract and retain the companies we have.”
Construction of the project is funded by $16.5 million in federal monies, with another $4.1 million in state funds. The project, awarded to James Construction Group, LLC, should be completed by late spring or early summer 2016.
For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Custom 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).
-www.dotd.la.gov-