Public appeal issued in Terrebonne for elderly heat health
March 22, 2011"The Metal Children" (Baton Rouge)
March 24, 2011The replacement of Tiger Drive Bridge in Thibodaux should be complete within two years, Mayor Tommy Eschete said last week.
The $3.5 million project to construct a three-lane bridge will be fully funded by the state. T. Baker Smith was given the design contract.
“I think everybody knows that bridge has basically outgrown its usefulness,” Eschete said. “It’s a two-lane bridge trying to serve an artery that feeds from John Deere, feeds from Thibodaux High and the west side of town. It has simply outgrown its usefulness.”
The current bridge will be closed for about six months as its replacement is built.
“We will have a functional intersection there with a center turn-lane on the bridge and we’ll have some protected left turn signals up on both sides of the bayou, so hopefully that will improve the traffic flow in that area,” he said.
The comments came as Eschete gave an amiable state of the city address at the Thibodaux Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly Rise and Shine breakfast last Thursday.
The mayor introduced his staff to the chamber, including his most recent additions, chief of police Scott Silverii and director of public works Miguel Maggio.
Eschete acknowledged it took longer than usual to assemble his staff, but said he has the right people in the right place. “We’re on the road to being a real successful team.”
The mayor said the reorganization of Andolsek Park, which he called his “pet project,” would cost $8-10 million. Eschete said he intends to present a plan to the public and eventually request a quarter-cent to half-cent sales tax increase.
Eschete said the goal is to add 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of open pavilion, offices and restrooms, fence in the entire park, install lights and add multi-purpose fields to the soccer complex.
“It is my goal to have this park restructured and constructed before the end of my four-year term in office,” the mayor said. “I’m looking forward to that and I promise you you’ll be hearing more about this before the end of the year. Hopefully in the first quarter of next year, we’ll have an issue on the ballot for the public to decide whether they would like for us to continue by approving the sales tax measure for that.
“Our next challenge is going to be to raise the funds for that. Of course, that dirty word comes up – tax. I really believe we could put a product out there for the public to consider, and if we do it the right way, I really believe that the public is going to respond to it and that we’ll be successful.”
The Terrebonne Parish Good Earth Transit system, which currently makes stops at Nicholls State University and Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, is set to have an increased presence in the city.
Eschete said that through a partnership with Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet, the public transportation system could begin servicing every Thibodaux stop at least once per hour with 14-16 seat buses as early as June.
“We’re excited about getting this started,” he said. “The buses are ordered, they should be coming in a couple of days…We couldn’t be more pleased with our partnership with Terrebonne.”
