PUBLIC HEARING ANNOUNCEMENT

What:              Public hearing regarding the East-West Corridor highway component

(I-310/Airport to the Central Business District)  

Jefferson, Orleans and St. Charles parishes
            S.P.N. 700-26-0242

F.A.P.N. HP-STP-T021(019)

When:             Hearing 1 – 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 14

Hearing 2 – 5-8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16

Where:            Hearing 1

The Pontchartrain Center

4545 Williams Blvd.

Kenner, La 70065

                        Hearing 2

                        Bunche Middle School

                        Gymnasium

                        8101 Simon St.

                        Metairie, LA 70003

Who:               All interested citizens are invited and encouraged to attend.

Purpose:         The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will conduct open-house public hearings in support of the improvement of Airline Drive (U.S. 61) from I-310 in St. Charles Parish east to the Earhart Expressway (La. 3139) in Jefferson Parish. The proposed improvements include the widening of U.S. 61 to include additional travel lanes and the construction of a new direct, elevated connection to Earhart Expressway.

                        The open-house hearings will include a continuous presentation describing the project. Representatives of DOTD and the project team will be present to provide information relative to the general location and design features of the roadway, environmental and other impacts of the project, the relocation assistance program, and any other matters of interest.

Details about the project, including the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), can be found at www.east-westcorridor.com. Copies of the DEIS are available for public review and/or copying at the following locations:

§         Luling – St. Charles Parish Library, West Regional Branch

§         Destrehan – St. Charles Parish Library, East Regional Branch

§         Metairie – Jefferson Parish Library, East Bank Regional Branch

§         Harahan – Jefferson Parish Library, Harahan Branch

§         New Orleans – New Orleans Public Libraries, Main Branch and Nix Branch; UNO Earl K. Long Library

§         Baton Rouge – State Library of Louisiana; DOTD Environmental Section office (1201 Capitol Access Road, Room 504F); FHWA office (5304 Flanders Dr., Suite A)

      Copies of the DEIS also are available for review and/or purchase at the DOTD District 02 office, located at 1440 U.S. 90 in Bridge City.

            Comments may be submitted via the project Web site (www.east-westcorridor.com), at the public hearing, or by U.S. mail postmarked by March 6 (extended comment period) to:

East-West Corridor Project Team

      URS Corp.

      3500 N. Causeway Blvd.

      Suite 900

      Metairie, LA 70002-3527

If, because of a disability, you require special assistance to attend this public hearing, please contact the project information line at (504) 488-4167 or write the East-West Corridor Project Team at the address above at least five working days prior to the hearing.

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