According to state Representative James Armes, a 1.5 mile section of U.S. 171 from Entrance Road to La. 1211 will be receiving a facelift this fall.
The job is set to be let out in September, Armes said. Workers will shave off the top layer then overlay it. If all goes well, the drive between Fort Polk and Leesville could be much smoother by Thanksgiving.
"We don't have the money to do the whole thing," said Armes, referring to the need for the road to receive more than just a facelift all the way to La. 10. The state had the money for the job, but the recent budget crunch siphoned the funds away.
I'ts going to take about 3-4 more years before we get it completely finished," Armes said. "Then it's going to go all the way to Hwy. 10."
According to Robert Mays with DOTD, the project will cost an estimated $1 million and consist "mainly of cold plane and overlay with some patching as needed." First, the existing asphalt will be removed to a predetermined depth, then replaced with a new overlay. During the project, traffic will be directed into one lane through the work area via a lane closure. Traffic will be maintained, though slowed, through the project.
"The entire project will be less than two months, and the impact should be in smaller lengths," said Mays via email.
In 2011, Armes expects that the concrete on the northbound side of the highway will be redone, with the southbound lanes being completed in 2012. In addition, in 2012, the bridge at Bayou Zourrie on U.S. 171 N. between Pickering and the Jean Chapel Road extension will be redone.
Armes also indicated his disapproval of the roundabout which will be installed at U.S. 171 and La. 28. Gilchrist Construction was recently awarded that job.
"I'm firmly against it," Armes said of the roundabout, which he said would likely cause even more accidents.
"I'm not an expert," he said. "I'm not an engineer by no means. But I've got common sense."
Armes contends that the number of businesses at the location, including Leesville Lumber, the golf course, the Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Motor Vehicles as well as the coming Market Basket, combined with the type of traffic, such as loaded log trucks, will cause confusion, slow south bound traffic and ultimately cause more traffic accidents. Armes said he's heard from a number of residents who are of the same opinion.
Armes said that DOTD has informed him that they have federal safety regulations that they must abide by. Traffic counts and surveys indicate that a roundabout is the best option.
Armes said that signage as well as better lighting would have gone a long way in helping prevent accidents at the intersection.
|
|
|
Related Stories
According to state Representative James Armes, a 1.5 mile section of U.S. 171 from Entrance Road to La. 1211 will be receiving a facelift this fall.
The job is set to be let out in September, Armes said. Workers will shave off the top layer then overlay it. If all goes well, the drive between Fort Polk and Leesville could be much smoother by Thanksgiving.
"We don't have the money to do the whole thing," said Armes, referring to the need for the road to receive more than just a facelift all the way to La. 10. The state had the money for the job, but the recent budget crunch siphoned the funds away.
I'ts going to take about 3-4 more years before we get it completely finished," Armes said. "Then it's going to go all the way to Hwy. 10."
According to Robert Mays with DOTD, the project will cost an estimated $1 million and consist "mainly of cold plane and overlay with some patching as needed." First, the existing asphalt will be removed to a predetermined depth, then replaced with a new overlay. During the project, traffic will be directed into one lane through the work area via a lane closure. Traffic will be maintained, though slowed, through the project.
"The entire project will be less than two months, and the impact should be in smaller lengths," said Mays via email.
In 2011, Armes expects that the concrete on the northbound side of the highway will be redone, with the southbound lanes being completed in 2012. In addition, in 2012, the bridge at Bayou Zourrie on U.S. 171 N. between Pickering and the Jean Chapel Road extension will be redone.
Armes also indicated his disapproval of the roundabout which will be installed at U.S. 171 and La. 28. Gilchrist Construction was recently awarded that job.
"I'm firmly against it," Armes said of the roundabout, which he said would likely cause even more accidents.
"I'm not an expert," he said. "I'm not an engineer by no means. But I've got common sense."
Armes contends that the number of businesses at the location, including Leesville Lumber, the golf course, the Chamber of Commerce and the Department of Motor Vehicles as well as the coming Market Basket, combined with the type of traffic, such as loaded log trucks, will cause confusion, slow south bound traffic and ultimately cause more traffic accidents. Armes said he's heard from a number of residents who are of the same opinion.
Armes said that DOTD has informed him that they have federal safety regulations that they must abide by. Traffic counts and surveys indicate that a roundabout is the best option.
Armes said that signage as well as better lighting would have gone a long way in helping prevent accidents at the intersection.
