Louisiana House committee backs study to connect West Tenth Street in Reserve to I‑10

The House Transportation Committee on Monday voted to report House Resolution 40 favorably, asking the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development to study connecting West Tenth Street in Reserve to Interstate 10 to relieve daily traffic congestion and to improve evacuation and freight access.

The resolution, introduced by Representative Sylvia Taylor, urges the department to examine potential benefits and logistics of a new connection between West Tenth Street and I‑10. "It would relieve congestion," Representative Sylvia Taylor said when describing the proposal and added it would help evacuation and business access. Taylor also cited local commercial users including Varma Foods, Marathon Petroleum and ADM Growmark and described the Port of South Louisiana as "one of the top ports in the nation."

The measure asks DOTD to study traffic, evacuation, and access implications for the district and nearby commercial sites; it does not authorize construction. Representative Walters moved that HR 40 be reported favorably, and with no objections the committee approved the resolution for favorable reporting.

Proponents told the committee the nearest current interstate accesses are in Gramercy or LaPlace, leaving Reserve without a direct connection to I‑10. Taylor said a study would help identify whether a link could ease the "traffic gridlock" residents experience at commute and shift-change times and improve commercial access to the port.

No formal funding or design proposal accompanied the resolution; the committee action was limited to requesting a study by DOTD. The resolution therefore establishes a request for a departmental review rather than any immediate project funding or permitting action.

The committee took the vote during its June 2 meeting and referred the study request to DOTD for further consideration.