1-49 push resurfaces

(Posted Nov. 7, 2006)

Signs have marked “the future I-49 corridor” in the Tri-Parishes for more than 10 years, without an inch of construction. State Treasurer John Kennedy says that now is the time to complete Interstate 49, asking that the state to post project funding.

By designating $100 million of the $872 million budget surplus, the state would generate $500 million in additional funding with an 80 percent match from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, according to Kennedy.

Engineering and planning has been completed for I-49, said Rusty Cloutier, co-chair of the I-49 Coalition. The project has been waiting on funds to jump-start construction with a completion in 12 years. The current funding plan would go dry in five to six years time, and additional highway funds would have to be passed, he said.

Kennedy said that the state is still authorized by Act 256 of the 2005 Regular Legislative Session to issue bonds backed by a portion of excess annual unclaimed property collection. Up to $15 million in collection could produce another $150 million for I-49, he said.

“I-49 is a critical part of the solution to many of the problems the state still faces,” said Kennedy in a recent release. “In addition to crating jobs and expanding trade, one of the most important reasons for completing I-49 is hurricane evacuation. After the multiple evacuations we witnessed last year, it became quite evident that we need to increase the capacity and connectivity of our north and south corridors.”

I-49 will not only provide an accessible route during evacuation, but also provide a safer and more fluid route than the current highway system.

Connecting North and South Louisiana

When hurricanes Katrina and Rita evacuated communities, people scrambled towards I-10, at that time states only viable interstate system heading towards safer ground. For those heading out-of-state, the road was long and an I-49 option may have relieved congestion.

Money was in place before the storms, but according to Cloutier, evacuations showed officials the need to complete I-49.

“Just look what that little storm did in South Terrebonne n and that wasn’t even a tropical storm,” said Cloutier regarding the low-pressure system that crossed the area Oct. 15. “It put a lot of water into the south part of the parish and made people nervous again that if we would have had a real hurricane we would have to evacuate everyone again and I-10 is the only way out.”

The expansion would continue from Lafayette where the existing I-49 ends and continue south to New Iberia and Morgan City and follow U.S. Hwy. 90 to downtown New Orleans, terminating at I-10. From Shreveport, I-49 will continue to Kansas City, Mo., and will form the “Mid-America Connection” as it links cities as far north as Winnipeg, Canada.

Rodney Hyatt, spokesman for State Police Troop C in Gray, said the primary need for I-49 is to better facilitate traffic. Intersections cause heavy congestion and the current highways are insufficient for moving people out, he said.

“Usually people tend to move along the coastline during evacuation, which is not a good idea,” said Hyatt. “We are trying to get people to move north and I-49 would help.”

Recently traveling to Conroe, Texas, on business, Cloutier was able play dual roles as both a businessman and coalition co-chair, discussing the benefits of completing an interstate system with Conroe Mayor Tommy Metcalf. According to Cloutier, that city has been growing at an incredible rate since the completion of near-by I-45, with population currently at 37,000 and anticipated to peak at 50,000 before July of 2007.

“There is no question (the interstate) will make a big difference. There has already been an economic boom between Houma and Thibodaux and this will bring more people into the area. Mayor Metcalf credits Conroe’s growth to I-45 and being able to complete it. Interstates are critical to the economy,” said Cloutier.

Terrebonne Parish has seen record revenues from sales tax dollars in 2006 from increasing business in the parish. Michael Ferdinand, CEO of the Terrebonne Economic Development Association, said that construction of I-49 will continue the trend.

“I think this will be significant,” he said.

According to Ferdinand, growth trends in the U.S. show the bulk of growth occurring within eight miles on either side of interstates.

“This will expand opportunities for business in our area by reducing the reparative costs of transportation, which aside from direct labor, hits most businesses on a daily basis,” he said.

By reducing reparative costs, transportation becomes more accessible at a lower cost, he explained.

Continuing Economic Success

Officials are hoping an interstate will transform tri-parish cities into locations of destination.

Travelers would be able to access Houma’s growing hotel industry. Big businesses would continue considering Houma and Thibodaux as future sites of operation.

Ferdinand said that corporate companies retain site location consultants n professionals that examine future locations n and primary criteria for consideration is interstate access.

“What this interstate will do is open up greater opportunities to diversify our economy,” he said.

State Sen. Butch Gautreaux, whose district includes parts of St. Mary and Terrebonne parishes, has been pushing for funding since its conception, but the 2005 hurricane season knocked I-49 on the priority list.

“If Louisiana is going to get the kind of mega-projects Gov. Blanco is looking at right now, we need to have a sound infrastructure system. So much is in need right now due to the aftermath of Katrina but I-49 is still a ‘high priority’ item,” said Gautreaux.

To cover the costs beyond the state and federal grants, the state senator said that if the Outer Continental Shelf bill passes next session in Washington, the state would be able to complete I-49 with additional revenues.

A Matter of Safety

State police are encouraged by the news. They reason I-49 will not only create and additional evacuation route, but also create safer roadways.

Hyatt said that accidents happen at the many intersections along U.S. Hwy. 90. Furthermore, numerous entries increase the risk of accidents whereas an interstate system would provide controlled access, he added.

“We may see a reduction in crashes because much of the elimination of intersections, but because of the general increase of traffic that comes along with an interstate, higher volumes may produce more incidents,” said Hyatt.

Because manpower is based on need, more traffic produced by I-49 would possibly add more patrols to Troop C, and Hyatt said there is a constant need for more troopers.

“You can never have enough police officers in my opinion,” he said.