‘East Corridor’ one-way to better traffic flow

Drivers in Thibodaux be warned.

North Acadia and South Acadia roads became one-way thoroughfares last Thursday morning.

The project, which is dubbed the “East Corridor,” allows traffic to flow west on North Acadia Road and east on South Acadia Road from Percy Brown Road to Cardinal Drive.

A signal light has been included at the intersection of Audubon and North/South Acadia Road. The intersection also has cross-over lanes and U-turn lanes.

“The whole idea behind this is to have better traffic flow in that area as it continues to develop,” said Thibodeaux Mayor Charles Caillouet.

Caillouet explained the development of the Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and the other economic growth in the area made rerouting the roads a necessity.

“It was advantageous to the city to go ahead and make it into a boulevard type system, which would then give North and South Acadia opportunities to cross over Audubon with the assistance of a signal,” he said.

For businesses located on the roads, the boulevard system is a mixed blessing.

The general feeling from them seems to be the traffic flow rerouting will make the corridor a safer intersection.

“I think the change will improve the flow of traffic,” Loan officer Robert Arceneaux for the Thibodaux/Audubon branch of First America Bank said.

Arceneaux also said she thinks the new traffic lights will make the intersection safer.

“Even though it will make it hard to get in and out of our office with the way traffic is flowing, we still feel the need to have the traffic lights at the intersections to reduce the number of vehicle accidents in the area,” said local chiropractor Dr. Matt Porche of Flynn, Manceaux, Arcement & Pizzolato Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Clinic on South Acadian Road

Caillouet said before, drivers had to rely on stop signs to cross over and, or turning onto Audubon.

This caused drivers to have to enter into somewhat of a dangerous situation, because of the volume of the traffic on the roads as well as the sometimes-tricky traffic maneuvers it required.

“I feel that the one-way traffic change is going to bring more traffic to the intersection, but eliminate the number of vehicle crashes,” said ASI Federal Credit Union branch manager Nellie Lovergne, “The change in traffic flow is great for the intersection, but not so great for our employees.”

Some businesses are also concerned about the fact they do not have turnaround lanes in front of their establishments.

“The only problem some of our workers will face is we don’t have a turnaround lane near Audubon Avenue and Cardinal Drive,” Arceneaux said.

Caillouet said the ultimate plan is to run a boulevard system throughout the entire city, from the Percy Brown Road to Louisiana Highway 3185.

Even though the new boulevard system has new signage and proper signalization, Caillouet had concerns about some of the driver’s in Thibodaux.

“Certainly in the beginning, there’s going to be people who pretty much drive by memory and not by sight,” he said.

Thibodaux Police Chief Craig Melancon also said there would be a “large police presence” along the adjusted routes to assist with traffic control.

Caillouet said the city has been working on the East Corridor project for the last eight or nine years. Progress had been slowed due to the piecemeal nature of road ownership in the city.

At one time, the city owned North Acadia Road; the state, South Acadia Road; and the parish owned part of North Acadia Road.

“To try to get the three governmental entities to come together took quite some time to the extent that the city had to enter an agreement with the state,” said Caillouet.

The city took over ownership of South Acadia Road on the condition of the state resurfacing it. And the part of North Acadia Road owned by the parish was annexed by the city.

With ownership of both roads, the city was able to go forward with the boulevard project.

Lafourche Parish workers spent last Wednesday hanging signs directing motorists one-way on North and South Acadia roads. * Photo by SOPHIA RUFFIN