JOHN E. SETTLE Jr.
Editor
Focus SB News
Kent Rogers is the executive director of the Northwest Louisiana Council on Governments (NLCOG), which is a regional planning agency for Caddo, Bossier, Webster and DeSoto parishes.
Currently, NLCOG is handling three megaprojects that will greatly impact this region: La .511 - Jimmie Davis Bridge, I-49 Inner City Connector and La 3132 Inner Loop Extension.
Last week Rogers addressed the North Shreveport Business Association and gave an update on each of these.
The Jimmie Davis Bridge received an additional $100 million in the recent legislative session due to the hard work of State Senator Barrow Peacock, who has championed this project through the capital outlay process securing funds toward this effort.
Two basic options are being considered. The first is construction of a new, modern four-lane bridge and converting the existing bridge into a bike/pedestrian throughfare. The second is a total rehabilitation of the existing two-lane bridge and construction of a new two-lane sister span.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LaDOTD) posted a notice of projected advertisement on May 7 of this year, which included surveying services, geotechnical services, traffic engineering, preliminary and final design, construction engineering support and related services.
The city of Shreveport, Bossier City, Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish must all approve any plans for the bridge.
The I-49 connector project is now focused on two options. The first is to build through the Allendale community. The second is to utilize the I-220 Inner Loop to connect I-49 at its current end to I-49 north of Shreveport.
Cultural resource surveys are being completed on both options, which is the next step in the decision-making process. These reports should be completed by year-end.
Key issues include a mitigation plan for historical districts in Allendale and the expanded utilization of the Cross Lake Bridge, which could endanger Shreveport’s drinking water source and recreational activities on the lake.
Funding of this project is still a major hurdle.
Lastly, Rogers reviewed the proposed La. 3132 Inner Loop Extension.
On Tuesday, Aug 17, NLCOG held an open house-style public hearing to discuss the results of the environmental assessment of the extension at LSU-Shreveport. This meeting included a prerecorded presentation of information relative to the general location, design features, impacts of the project, tentative project schedule and acquisition of rights-of-way.
Representatives of LaDOTD and NLCOG members were available for questions at several information stations to facilitate the education process. Attendees were allowed to make public statements during the final hour of the meeting.
The suggested route is to extend La 3132 from Flournoy Lucas Road south just past the Port of Caddo-Bossier to the projected future route of I-69.
NLCOG is also working on the proposed I-69, Linwood Avenue reconstruction, La 3276 reconstruction , a east west corridor for Bossier Parish and the widening of U.S. 371 at the North Webster Industrial Park.