Brenda Pitre
December 11, 2009Irma Illum
December 22, 2009
Even with the new highway signs denoting services at Leeville and a LA 1 bridge toll tag kiosk machine at one of the town’s businesses, proprietors still contend more needs to be done to attract customers.
“Leeville businesses are constantly threatened by hurricanes and storm surges, but now, we have to fight the economy,” said Don Griffin, co-owner of Griffin’s Gas Station and Marina in Leeville. “With all of the cons facing us, we are looking for some positive results.”
When the Tomey Doucet Toll Bridge first opened businesses saw a 30 to 40 percent drop in their sales, which meant that less tax revenue was going to the parish and the state.
The big push for the LA 1 Coalition in October was to help the descending sales for the businesses. The agency opted to place signs alerting motorists of the facilities that were available in Leeville.
Henri Boulet, executive director for LA 1 Coalition, said the new sign is located approximately one half mile before the north access ramp to bridge. It also states that the next services are 10 miles away, he said.
Griffin said the new signs have helped. However, Griffin said what will attract more business is the toll pay machines.
Only one building, Tyd’s Bait and Tackle Shop, was approved as a kiosk site. Current building owner Tommy Dupre said the previous owner inked the deal with the Louisiana Department of Transportation. When Dupre took over the contract was transferred.
According to Boulet, the location was chosen as the ideal spot in Leeville for its parking area. “We have enough turnaround space for the 18-wheelers, trucks hauling large fishing boats or equipment,” Dupre said.
Griffin wanted his business to also be considered a toll pass establishment. The business has more than 200 signatures of patrons looking for the kiosk machine at the establishment.
“We have to listen to the complaints when we tell people they have to go back 8 miles up the road to get a pass,” he said. “The convenience would be to have more than one system in this area.”
Boulet said a select number of businesses were approved to host kiosk machines because of the limited funds that were available to purchase the machines. Each machines costs about $10,000.
The machines were designed to serve the LA 1 corridor including traffic heading south on Highway 308 and the four-lane highway in Galliano.
The state will have the ability to re-evaluate the kiosk machine placement in the coming months, Boulet said. This could lead to some machines being moved around for better access.
It has taken a while for the kiosk machines to be installed. Boulet said machines were installed in Larose, Galliano, Golden Meadow and Leeville last week.
According to Boulet, the delay was due to software issues.
DOTD installed the machines, but have not made an official notification that the machines are available for use.
“They want to have a soft opening just to see if the machines work properly,” Boulet said. “I can say, installing them has been a good enhancement of the toll system.”
The kiosk machines can be found at:
€ Cash Magic – Highway 308, Larose
€ Chevron Jubilee – LA Highway 3235, Galliano
€ Frank’s Supermarket – South Bayou Drive, Golden Meadow
€ Tyd’s Bait and Tackle – LA Highway 1, Leeville.
The Leeville businesses have also been lobbying for a boat launch to be erected where the old bridge resided. Griffin said the launch would attract more recreational fishermen who cast their rods and reels all year long.
The 40-year-old Leeville Lift-Bridge is being dismantled along the LA 1 corridor. Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph said the parish has hired Piccola and Associates to draw up designs to construct a Leeville Boat Launch.
“It should draw more customers to the Leeville area,” she said.
Gary Martin, a driver with a Scott, Louisiana-based chemical company, checked his Geaux Pass for his 18-wheeler flatbed truck before heading to Port Fourchon. *Staff photo by SOPHIA?RUFFIN
