Livingston Parish officials lay out state-priority road projects, funding gaps

Robert Dugas, a parish staff member, told the Livingston Parish Council during new business that the parish has several state- and federally-funded road projects in various stages — and that moving projects from design into construction depends on matching funds, environmental clearances and having projects "shovel ready."

Dugas said funding comes from a mix of local sales tax dollars and state and federal programs routed through the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) and the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) under the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). "Of course, the sales tax that we use locally, we also get state and federal dollars," Dugas said.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said congestion and anticipated economic development around Walker, Denham Springs and other growth corridors make timely progress on these projects important for daily travel and to attract employers. Several projects are already funded for design or early work but face large gaps before construction can start.

Major projects and status

- Lindner Road: "60% plans complete," Dugas said; right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation are programmed for the current year and construction is expected the following year if schedules hold.

- Forest Road: Dugas said the Forest project has been completed.

- Hood Road bridges: Dugas said the timber bridges will be replaced with concrete structures; design is complete for at least one bridge and construction is programmed for next year.

- Carroll Street (Walker): programmed for completion next year, Dugas said.

- Walker South / LA 447: The parish identified a package of improvements that would expand capacity south of I-12, add roundabouts and turn lanes and, for a major phase, widen parts of LA 447 to four lanes. Dugas said one package of right-of-way and utility relocation work for LA 447 is estimated at about $11 million; he said the project is at roughly 60% design but cannot advance without that funding.

- Juban Road extension (Juban Road Extension North): Dugas said the extension is programmed in 2026 with $1.6 million in the STIP reserved for environmental work. The project includes an overpass over railroad tracks and significant utility relocation, he said.

- Bass Pro Boulevard and Demco Lane: Dugas said these are programmed or under design as a series of smaller improvements intended to move traffic without adding a new interstate interchange.

Funding structure and hurdles

Dugas and council members outlined how federal and state funds typically use an 80/20 split, with local governments responsible for a roughly 20 percent match. Dugas said the state will pay the 80 percent for projects it selects, but if the parish advances a project on its own (to make it shovel ready), the parish will be responsible for a share of preconstruction costs such as geotechnical work, hydrology studies and engineering.

"Every elected official ... they're ready to give us money for shovel ready project," Dugas said, but he added that paying for studies and design up front — "$250,000, $300,000" for engineering and studies — is a barrier for the parish.

Dugas said the 11-parish MPO programs roughly $4 million a year for projects that fall inside the metropolitan area, while another number cited for the regional program was about $18 million a year shared among multiple parishes; he said eligibility is limited to roads designated as major collectors or higher within the MPO metropolitan boundary.

Planning and next steps

Council members and staff said a traffic master plan and a clear list of prioritized projects make applications more competitive. Dugas and other council members described ongoing efforts to assemble a short list of four priority projects to present to state and federal legislators for capital outlay and other funding, and to prepare a parishwide traffic master plan so projects can proceed to design, right-of-way and environmental clearances.

Public comment and landowner concerns

Resident Gerald Burns, who identified himself and said he has worked on the Juban extension for 15 years, urged the council to expedite right-of-way design and said the parish previously received $1.6 million in capital outlay for environmental and design work and later $3 million that was vetoed. "Landowners are calling me. They see surveyors in their yard, and they think they're gonna take their house," Burns said, urging clearer public-facing designs so property owners understand proposed right-of-way lines.

Ending

Council members said the infrastructure committee will refine the parish's prioritized project list and bring a master plan package back to the council. No final construction approvals were made at the meeting.