Details are scarce about what’s in store for the businesses located in the Perkins Road overpass neighborhood once the planned widening of Interstate 10 gets underway.
This much is certain: People want something done about Baton Rouge’s notorious traffic, but that desire is muted when proposed solutions enter into their backyard.
The Advocate reported earlier this week that the DOTD will need to expropriate four businesses and 17 homes along the route to make the long-awaited widening project possible. The DOTD wouldn’t confirm to Daily Report which homes and businesses will be impacted until all owners are notified.
Overpass Merchant and Troy’s Barber Shop were among those that could be forced to close—and Lamar Advertising might lose an undetermined number of billboard locations—because of the widening that is scheduled to start next year and take 5-7 years to finish.
The DOTD has been hosting public meetings this week to discuss the project with area home and business owners but it is not known whether concerns brought up at the meetings will make a difference in the project plans.
The widening is part of a $600 million highway package announced by Gov. John Bel Edwards in January and it will be financed using bonds to be repaid over 12 years with a portion of annual federal highway aid for state transportation projects.
The homes and businesses in the overpass area are part of roughly five acres of right of way needed for the expansion.
Unknown still is the long-term impact, not just on places where the land is needed for the road, but the effects the construction will have on access to the businesses in the Perkins Road overpass area.
Also this week, Edwards and Rep. Garret Graves announced $80 million in redistributed federal highway funds were coming to Louisiana, a portion of which will fund an I-10 interchange at Pecue Lane.
