Jefferson Parish plans LED lighting, landscaping for Westbank Expressway; DOTD permits expected

Jefferson Parish engineering staff presented plans to modernize lighting and improve streetscape along the Westbank Expressway during the council’s Oct. 1 meeting.

Angela DeSoto, the parish engineering director, said the project aims to upgrade existing fixtures to LED across the at‑grade and elevated portions of the expressway, replace pendant and column lights under the bridge, and harden electrical systems to reduce theft and outages. DeSoto said an older cost estimate put the full upgrade at about $2,400,000 and that the project will use state treasury funds identified for the corridor; any overage would be paid from parish streets and sewer funds.

DeSoto said the work requires Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development permits and that the maintenance contractor for the West Bank—Bird Electric—was near contract signing. “We’re been in contact with DOTD. They’re totally on board and are going to expedite all of the permits as necessary,” she said.

Dana Brown showed concept sketches for ground‑level improvements focused on screening unsightly views at key intersections along the nine‑plus‑mile corridor. Brown said planting options are constrained by light and that earlier test plantings informed the concept; she said the next step is construction documents after concept approval.

Why it matters: The project targets safety and visual improvements on a heavily traveled local corridor and commits identified funds and a contractor to get work underway once permitting and materials are in hand.

Next steps: Parish staff will finalize material estimates with the contractor, order materials, and announce start dates once deliveries are scheduled.