Latest news with #LouisianaDepartmentofTransportationandDevelopment
American Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- American Press
Jeff Davis parish administrator gives progress report on first year
Construction is expected to be completed by the end of this year for a new $2.1 million state-of-the-art animal shelter for Jeff Davis shelter will feature 40 dog runs, 34 cat enclosures, areas for intake, isolation, stray animal care and surgical procedures. (Doris Maricle / American Press) Jeff Davis Parish Administrator Ben Boudreaux is nearing completion of his first year as the parish's first ever administrator. In reflecting on his first year, Boudreaux presented a progress report at a police jury meeting Wednesday. He highlighted significant accomplishments from the past year and shared his vision for the future of the parish. 'I think we've accomplished a lot,' Boudreaux said, expressing his satisfaction with the progress made. 'Hopefully more than past years.' He acknowledged that many of these achievements were a collaborative effort, with some projects initiated before his tenure and others benefiting from the expertise of the parish engineer. He emphasized that every accomplishment represents a win for the parish, and extended his sincere gratitude to the staff for their dedication, teamwork and willingness to embrace changes in a short period. He also thanked the police jurors for their invaluable input and participation, encouraging them to 'keep pushing us, don't stop.' 'When I first came to the parish, one of the things I was told is we had a back arena extension project that we wanted to be completed (at the fairgrounds),' he said. 'I know it was in the works and was a high priority for Rep. Troy Romero.' Additionally, he mentioned a bridge that required shutdown for repairs as per the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development's directive. 'I didn't know I was going to get my engineering stamp wet right off the bat, but these two things, I did the engineering plans for, and we kicked off with a bid for the arena canopy. It came in about what we estimated and as y'all know, as of this week, they completed that project, on time, on budget and it looks great. I think it is a great addition to the parish.' From an economic development standpoint, Boudreaux said both water infrastructure and road improvements have been top priorities. 'We need infrastructure improvements, especially by the interstate,' he said. 'It was a high priority for a lot of people. ' Boudreaux is particularly excited about the new water filtration system being installed by the Jeff Davis Central Water District in Woodlawn. The water well has been drilled, and the plans and permitting are complete, he said. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds provided by the police jury were instrumental in launching the project, he said. Additionally, the parish is looking forward to receiving water sector funds, which will supplement the project and reduce the need to draw solely from their own funds. Furthermore, Jeff Davis Parish Water and Sewer Commission #1 has finalized plans for a Phase One booster station project at the Lacassine water treatment plant, The project is expected to go out for bid by the end of the year, according to Boudreaux. The police jury has allocated funds from both ARPA and the state's capital outlay to support the project. 'One of the things that kind of helped this project, just like the Jeff Davis Central, was the ARPA money the police jury gave, and also the donation of the five acres where the water plant is going to be built,' he said. 'That's going to be a great addition for that area.' Boudreaux also highlighted the poor infrastructure around the interstate, attributing it to boundary issues. 'When we have boundaries, it doesn't benefit them to build a lot of infrastructure right at the tip of those boundaries,' he said. 'So we're going to have an opportunity with these (Senator Bill) Cassidy funds. That'll be a project through the police jury where we can work around and through those boundaries.' He stressed the need to strengthen those areas where the boundaries exist. Boudreaux also shared his excitement about the parish's chip seal program, which allows for improvements to gravel roads at a fraction of the cost of asphalt. 'I think it's very beneficial to growing our parish,' he said. 'Nobody likes a dusty road.' The parish is collaborating with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development on several bridge projects, which will be fully funded by the state. Work has either been completed or is scheduled to begin on bridges on Lyons Road, Ardoin Cove, Pecan Orchard Road and Payton Road, West Racca Road and Theo Road. The 2022 road project has been successfully closed out, including the completion of Farm Supply Road which was funded through capital outlay funds. In-house maintenance crews also finished 6.5 miles of chip seal work, and a draft list for additional chip seal work and paving projects in Topsy are pending bids. Nearly three miles of roads in Topsy are currently in the design phase for paving. Boudreaux said the Topsy road improvement project will enhance property value in the area and help reduce maintenance costs. 'Overall I think it is definitely a win for the parish and those people over there,' he said. The police jury was awarded $1 million for the Topsy road improvements. Additional grants were secured for new trash receptacles, generators, drainage on Plantation Road in Lake Arthur, and a hurricane safe room at the police jury office. The parish is also seeking grants for a local road safety program to provide signs and striping, arena improvements, sewer implementation, building improvements, and health unit generator. In other developments and improvements, Boudreaux said construction of a new $2.1 million state-of-the-art animal shelter is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The facility, designed for future expansion and funded without additional taxes, will feature receiving rooms, a surgical room, 40 dog runs and 34 cat enclosures. 'I've never run an animal shelter before, but I think it's good that we thought ahead and we added those things initially and designed it such that we could expand it easily in the future,' he said. 'A small animal shelter is definitely better than none at all, and we had to start somewhere.' In addition, Boudreaux said the parish has successfully updated and replaced equipment, leading to increased maintenance output. This was achieved by implementing a new work order system to manage and track complaints, dedicating personnel to digging ditches, patching, and operating equipment and utilizing part-time labor for weed spraying. The parish is actively monitoring output for accountability and incorporating advanced tools, such as a fleet management system to track vehicles and heavy equipment. 'We're buying all these things to improve, but we're also trying to save money at the same time,' he said. He said the parish has made significant strides in cost savings, including a $200,000 reduction in health insurance and a $400,000 reduction in fixed assets insurance. Additionally, the parish is performing more in-house repairs and maintenance with its own employees and increasing investments. Boudreaux also highlighted several improvements to parish-owned buildings, including the hiring of a maintenance supervisor and repair person. This is expected to help with small maintenance and repairs, and save the parish money. Repairs were made to the fairgrounds' arena roof, and many signs throughout the parish have been cosmetically fixed, including the registrar of voters office, the 911 building and the health unit. Small improvements, such as the addition of fans and new padded chairs, were also made at the multipurpose building at the fairgrounds 'We're trying to make our parish look good,' he said. Changes and improvements have also been made to the police jury office, including a new phone system and a new file sharing system to improve efficiency. Additionally, offices have been rearranged for smoother operations, regular staff meetings are being held to keep employees updated, and job titles and descriptions have been updated. 'And for the first time, we are doing employee evaluations, and that is very important because it gives employees feedback on how they're doing and what they need to improve on,' he said. The parish has also been focused on updating ordinances including those related to dirt pits, injection wells, and utility permits. Code enforcement has also been improved with the introduction of spreadsheets to track violations and documentation worksheets for tracking projects. Permit processes have been streamlined to accept online and credit card payments. Boudreaux also prioritized improving customer service, updating the parish website, and implementing new forms for driveway, logging and utility permit. Procurement and purchase order policies have also been updated. Regarding audits, Boudreaux said the parish successfully submitted all overdue audits from the past three years within a 10-month period. The 2024 audit is scheduled to be submitted by its due date. To enhance public communication, the parish is now actively using its social media page for updates and streaming meetings online. Looking ahead, Boudreaux said the parish will continue to improve road maintenance and drainage projects. A key goal for the end of the year is to clean up all maintenance yards. Improvements are also planned for the fairgrounds, Houssiere Park, Roanoke Park, and water infrastructure projects.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Automotive
- USA Today
Video shows worker dangling upside down after semi slams into bucket truck
Video shows the moment an 18-wheeler slammed into a bucket truck while a state employee worked in the vehicle's cherry picker, flipping the container and leaving him dangling upside-down above a Louisiana road. The two-vehicle crash took place while the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development worker was repairing a traffic light along a Livingston Parish highway on June 25, according to Reuters. Video obtained by USA TODAY shows the semi-truck crash into the outstretched arm of a bucket truck while a maintenance crew member performed repairs on the traffic signal in Denham Springs, about 18 miles east of Baton Rouge. Footage captured the truck as it collided with the bucket. Watch: Crash leaves worker dangling Watch: Video shows car go airborne after road buckles in extreme Missouri heat Amber Alert: Idaho teens taken feared to be with religious polygamy group What happened to worker? The impact of the truck flipped the bucket upside-down, leaving the worker in the video hanging from an apparent safety harness. Local media outlet WBRZ-TV reported a Denham Springs Police Department spokesperson said the worker was not seriously hurt. USA TODAY has reached out to police and the state's Department of Transportation. Contributing: Reuters Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
College Drive flyover project complete, brings relief to Baton Rouge drivers
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — After years of construction and constant traffic headaches, Baton Rouge drivers are finally getting some relief. On Thursday, state leaders officially cut the ribbon on the long-anticipated College Drive Flyover project. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) gathered with local officials to mark the completion of the $61.5 million project, designed to address one of the most congested and dangerous traffic spots in the Capital Region. 'This stretch of interstate sees nearly 178,000 drivers a day. Until now, drivers had to make multiple lane changes and less than a mile just to reach the college drive exit. One of the most dangerous traffic patterns in the area,' said DOTD Secretary Joe Donahue. Construction on the project began in 2021 in response to growing frustrations from drivers dealing with traffic delays, accidents, and confusing merges near the busy I-10/I-12 interchange. The new flyover provides a direct, two-lane ramp from I-10 and I-12 westbound to College Drive, eliminating the dangerous weaving that plagued the area for decades. 'Safety is always DOTD's top priority, and this project reflects that commitment,' Donahue said. Public Information Director Rodney Mallet said the redesigned traffic pattern is expected to significantly improve both safety and commute times. 'It's really going to help the traffic flow, and it's going to be a safer situation because people aren't going to be weaving,' Mallet said. The College Drive Flyover was originally a component of the broader I-10 Widening Project. However, leaders determined it could be completed sooner and fast-tracked its development using the design-build method, a move that helped expedite construction and minimize costs. DOTD said additional infrastructure upgrades are still underway throughout Baton Rouge, including the ongoing I-10 widening and the new bridge over City Park Lakes, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The College Drive Flyover is now fully open to drivers, offering a smoother, safer route through one of Baton Rouge's busiest corridors. EBR Metro Council picks new advisor for Raising Canes River Center redevelopment project 'It's a big problem in Baton Rouge': Authorities suspect human trafficking in massage parlors College Drive flyover project complete, brings relief to Baton Rouge drivers Louisiana lawmakers push for transparency in drug pricing, bill advances Judge blocks Trump's National Guard deployment in Los Angeles Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I-110 to close in both directions after train derails on bridge above interstate
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will close both directions of I-110 near the Governor's Mansion curve on Friday, May 30, so crews can remove a derailed train from the railroad bridge above the interstate. DOTD said the closure is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will affect the stretch of I-110 between Capitol Access Road and North 22nd Street. According to officials, the train derailed around 1:30 p.m. and will be removed from its tracks with a crane. The lanes were closed due to falling debris but reopened as of 2:10 p.m. Friday. Officials said the contents of the train remain unknown at this time. No injuries were reported. After the train is gone, officials will inspect the bridge and road to ensure both are safe for travel. The closure will last a few hours. DOTD said they should reopen the interstate early Saturday, unless unexpected issues arise. Drivers are asked to exit the interstate before the overpass and use alternate routes. Check for the latest travel updates. Church in Baton Rouge placed on lockdown due to bear sighting 'M*A*S*H' actress Loretta Swit dies at 87 President Trump gives Elon Musk an Oval Office send-off I-110 to close in both directions after train derails on bridge above interstate Musk slams New York Times after report on alleged drug use GOP plan could raise credit requirements for Pell Grant recipients Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development opens off-ramp on I-20 in Bossier City
The major rehabilitation project on I-20 in Bossier City has hit another milestone. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has reopened the I-20 eastbound off-ramp to Industrial Drive (LA 782-2). "The I-20 major rehabilitation project in Bossier City has hit an additional milestone with the reopening of another newly built ramp, as well as the start of reconstruction on another," DOTD said in a news release The eastbound on and off-ramps at Airline Drive will remain closed as this $123 million investment project continues, According to the DOTD. This will allow for contractors to demolish the existing ramps and build new ones. This ramp closure is anticipated to take four months. The I-20 eastbound off-ramp to Barksdale Boulevard (US 71) is currently closed and undergoing demolition in preparation for a complete facelift in the form of a full reconstruction. The I-20 eastbound on and off-ramps at the Old Minden Road (LA 72) interchange were recently reopened, with the westbound ramps being prepped for opening soon. DOTD said work continues on concrete paving of the interstate travel lanes, as well as extensive nighttime concrete panel repair on sections of I-20 outside of the full rehab zone. DOTD reminds commercial motor vehicles such as 18-wheelers that they are currently prohibited under Louisiana Revised Statute 32:327 from driving through the rehab work zone because of narrow lane widths. More: Louisiana DOTD updates I-20 rehabilitation project with on-off ramp openings, closures Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@ This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: DOTD opens Industrial Dive off-ramp on I-20 in Bossier City
