The Northwest Louisiana Council Of Governments (NLCOG) is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the selection of the route for the long-awaited I-49 Inner City Connector.
Kent Rogers, NLCOG executive director, reports as follows:
"Over the past few months NLCOG, Providence Engineering, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and the Federal Highways Administration Louisiana Division Office have been working diligently on a scope of services to move forward to complete the Environmental Process on the I-49 ICC project. Based on this schedule a Draft EIS is approximately 12 months out. A Record of Decision (ROD) is approximately 18 months out. The last six months is very procedural and cannot be forced.
The most important task in this process is completion of the "Evaluation of Build Alternatives." This task would Identify a preferred alternative for the project. Based on that, the state can begin innovative procurement (such as design-build or designbuild with availability payments) before the ROD is issued. It also could lead to some early acquisition of real estate. In order for LaDOTD to move forward any innovative procurement two things need to occur: completion of the Evaluation of Build Alternatives, and funding secured for the project. NLCOG has already directed its consultants to complete the Evaluation of Build Alternatives for the project.
This task is scheduled to be completed early July 2020.
NLCOG is also prepared to work with our local, state, and federal delegations to provide any assistance we can in securing further funding for the projects. This project has been and remains of the highest priority for NLCOG.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE May 29 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.