Westside extension right-of-way land acquired

A needed right of way from La. Highway 24 to Martin Luther King Boulevard for Phase B of the $5.3 million Westside Boulevard extension was secured in late November as members of the Barker family signed over property to Terrebonne Parish. When Phase B is constructed the link will join a section currently being built between MLK and Highway 311.

According to Parish Manager Al Levron, Phase B was established in the securing of two separate tracts of land. The first portion of this phase included the purchase of road space from Teche Bank at a cost to the parish of $499,200.

The Barker property and servitudes were appraised at $501,000. The land was secured by the parish with a portion of it being donated and a portion of it being involved in a cooperative endeavor agreement, which will be realized with the completion of a list of construction, drainage and sewer projects that will benefit both the parish and adjacent properties with no actual cash exchange involved.

“We agreed to participate in that portion of the project up to a value of $100,000. The differential is to be picked up by the Barker Partnership,” Levron said. “We are [also] getting a land valued at $501,000 for approximately $62,000 of drainage improvements [which] will accrue benefit to future development. So, the public’s out of pocket cost for the $501,000 [tract of land] will be $162,000.”

Levron said that Terrebonne Parish has successfully used cooperative endeavor agreements in the past and that they substantially help when it comes to cash flow and also helps property owners involved.

Phase B of this project will feature construction of a 2,900-foot, four-lane concrete roadway with a 54-inch street right of way. The plan also includes some building demolition, utility adjustments and reworking of drainage and sewer systems.

The current two-lane bridge over Bayou Terrebonne will become a one-way section of road from Main Street to Park Avenue. It was noted that no wetlands would be disturbed with this project, and it will open additional opportunities for commercial development.

“I want to thank the Barker family for their tremendous support in helping this project proceed,” said Parish President Michel Claudet.

Barker family spokesman, Michael Barker expressed his gratitude for those who made the turning over of this land as expedient as possible. “The new road will improve traffic flow, drainage and sewerage while providing and economic benefit to the Bayou Cane area,” he said.

Work will continue on the 20-year Westside Boulevard expansion with completion of a right of way acquisition from the Barker family by Terrebonne Parish. Road work is intended to improve both traffic flow and drainage efforts. MIKE NIXON