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District 61 officials outline near‑term repairs; residents and stakeholders press for LA 30, I‑10 and safety fixes
Summary
District 61 administrator Joshua Stuce described how roughly $7.5 million in new district funds will be used for immediate striping, mowing contracts, tree removal, ditch/pipe work and sensor upgrades. Local leaders at the public‑comment session urged priority for LA 30, freight corridor overlays and better project execution for I‑10 and regional capacity.
Joshua Stuce, District 61 administrator, told the committee that the district received about $7.5 million in additional funding this year and described near‑term uses: a $2,000,000 striping contract to restore visibility at large intersections, a renewed East Baton Rouge mowing and litter contract, a district tree removal and trimming contract (bid soon, roughly $650,000), ditch digging and pipe cleaning work (bids around $600,000) and signal/camera upgrades for intersections with detection issues. He also said a cross-drain (pipe replacement) project will be bid later this year and that projects identified will follow preservation recommendations.
Members of the delegation and public commenters highlighted specific local needs. Representative Beryl Amedy pressed for status on LA 398 and LA 662; DOTD said those roads lacked project numbers but that recent funding will allow them to be designed and let for bids in FY25–26, likely early in that fiscal year. Representative Kelly Hennessy Dickerson raised concerns about Liberty Road (LA 409); DOTD said temporary in‑house overlays will address severely deteriorated short segments and a full overlay will depend on funding, possibly programmed in FY26–27, and that DOTD has resources to purchase bridge materials to rebuild a multi‑span bridge using in‑house forces.
In public comment, the City of Gonzales requested continued support and capital outlay to connect Our Lady of the Lake Hospital roadway to an alternate route to relieve LA 30 traffic; local chamber and business groups reiterated the importance of LA 30, I‑10 widening and Airline Highway improvements, and asked for expedited right‑of‑way work and better project execution. Saint James Parish leaders asked for specific overlays and repairs on freight corridors like LA 3127 and urged funding to expedite those projects.
Environmental advocates urged caution about automatic reliance on widening to relieve congestion. Annabelle Owens of the Sierra Club Delta Chapter recommended prioritizing multimodal investments, arguing that road widening tends to induce additional vehicle miles traveled and disproportionately harms communities of color.
DOTD staff and legislators acknowledged the range of needs and encouraged written submissions so program managers can consider changes when the project selection cycle resumes next spring.
