La. Highway 3235 study planned

After a number of fatal crashes at many key intersections, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has approved a full corridor study of La. Highway 3235.

The study will extend from the highway’s northern intersection at La. Highway 24, south to its termination at the intersection of La. Highway 1 in Golden Meadow. Henri Boulet, executive director of the LA1 Coalition, said the study is expected to begin in the coming weeks.

Slated to take approximately one year to complete, the corridor study will include a full safety analysis of the highway, including all intersections, U-turns and stopping and yielding points. In addition, it will include data on motorists’ speed patterns, a vehicle capacity analysis and a further review of intersections for potential implementation of signal lights.

According to correspondence from DOTD, several short-term safety improvements are being undertaken along La. Highway 3235, including installing rumble strips on both sides of the roadway, replacing all stop signs on side approach streets with oversized stop signs and installing advance warning signs with flashing lights on both approaches at the intersection with La. Highway 3162, better known as the “Cut Off connection.”

DOTD is also in the beginning stages of conducting a separate safety review for La. Highway 657, better known as the “Larose connector.” This review will take into consideration traffic counts, a speed survey and other technical data to determine the need for a traffic signal at the intersection with La. Highway 3235. This review is expected to be complete in approximately 75 days.

“Upon the conclusion of these surveys, there should be several solid recommendations on how to improve traffic safety for businesses and residents along the La. Highway 3235 corridor,” Boulet said.

In other news, Boulet said DOTD toll collectors at the Leeville overpass have transitioned to a fall/winter schedule.

The booths are manned from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays.

Motorists will use the toll machine to access the overpass when toll collectors are not available.