Council approves right‑turn lane on West Main at South Bernard; funding approved

On Sept. 9, 2025, the City of Broussard Council approved Resolution 851‑25 to add a right‑turn lane on West Main Street at South Bernard Road. Daniel Hutchinson presented the project plan and sought funding approval; the council approved the measure by roll call with no public comment.

Hutchinson told the council the work would widen the pavement by about 11 feet, add a taper and widen the intersection radius so drivers turning right from West Main onto South Bernard can use a dedicated lane instead of stacking through the signal. "It's gonna be a right turn lane on Main Street coming from Lafayette turning on to South Bernard Road," Hutchinson said. He said the lane would typically provide space to stack roughly five cars (about 20 feet per vehicle, depending on vehicle size).

Council members asked about lighting and signal changes. Hutchinson said no new signal heads or lighting adjustments are required; the project will include signage and possible timing tweaks to the signal. He also said the city’s traffic engineer recommends reviewing signal timing more frequently — about once a year — because traffic patterns change as new roads open or construction occurs.

Why it matters: council members described increased traffic in the area and said the turn lane would act as a relief valve at peak times. The council approved funding for the work; a specific contract value was not stated in the public remarks. The project is expected to require only pavement widening, signage and a taper; staff indicated future signal timing adjustments may be needed as traffic patterns evolve.

Action and next steps: the council approved the resolution declaring funding authorized and directed staff to proceed with the project. The council did not receive public comment during the item, and staff will coordinate procurement and construction scheduling.