March 17
March 17, 2009
Loyce "Lois" H. Matherne
March 19, 2009
An overpass is planned at the corner of U.S. Highway 90 and Louisiana Highway 318 in West St. Mary Parish, but the question locals are asking is, “When?”
Dr. William D. Ankner, secretary of the state’s Department of Transportation, told a crowd of about 250 residents at the West St. Mary Civic Center last Wednesday that the project is a priority intended to save lives.
Since 2004, more than 100 vehicle crashes – including two fatalities – have been recorded at the corner, according to Louisiana Troop I spokesman Trooper David Anderson.
Ankner said the project is expected to take about two and a half years to begin building. “It’s not going to happen overnight, and it is coming later than what I want,” he said.
The state DOTD is mandated to follow the bidding and construction process outlined by Louisiana lawmakers, Ankner explained.
“But I do intend to get the ball rolling this year with an environmental analysis to study right of way and mitigation issues,” he added “I don’t know what the cost is going to be, but I do know that you will be involved in many more meetings.”
In response to a question regarding the exact location of the overpass, which was posed by St. Mary Sugars manager Ronald Guillot, the DOTD secretary said three possibilities were explored in a feasibility study: situating the overpass over U.S. Hwy. 90 via 318 and with interchange exits from U.S. Hwy. 90 to La. Hwy. 318.
“That’s not safe,” Guillot said. “How can you expect cane trucks to cross over U.S. Hwy. 90 and then come down off of that overpass pulling that kind of weight during harvest season?”
Guillot said traffic at the intersection – he estimates at least 40,000 vehicles pass the corner at any time – is also a concern.
An overpass would also pose problems for tractors attempting to cross U.S. Hwy. 90 via La. Hwy. 318 during grinding season, according to Virginia Sutton, director of the West St. Mary Civic Center.
“We haven’t written anything in stone yet,” Ankner told the crowd. “But cost is going to have a role in this, and it could be cheaper to build it one place rather than another.”
The remark caught the ire of St. Mary Parish Councilman Craig Matthews, who represents the Four Corners area. “We deserve real dollars to be invested in this project,” he told Ankner. “This community has been left destitute since it was founded.”
“This corner has had enough bloodshed over the years to declare it a sacred burial ground,” Matthews added. “It also is the scene for enough car parts to make it a salvage yard.”
State Rep. Sam Jones, who is a member of the state’s Highway and Transportation Committee, assured the audience the project is on the DOTD’s agenda.
“When it’s finished, there will be 40 miles of controlled highway between Patoutville and here,” he told the St. Mary Parish audience. “This will be handled with expediency on our end within the committee.”
Ankner invited the audience to monitor the state DOTD Web site for future updates and notices.
More than 100 traffic accidents – two fatal – have occurred at the corner of U.S. Hwy. 90 and La. Hwy. 318, according to figures compiled by State Police Troop I. * Photo by HOWARD CASTAY
