DOTD Completes $53.2M LA 70 Widening and Roundabout Project
Key Takeaways
- DOTD completed a $53.2 million widening and roundabout project on LA 70 to address rising traffic and economic growth.
- The project converted the corridor into a four-lane divided highway and replaced a major signalized intersection with a roundabout.
- Improvements are expected to support freight movement and accommodate traffic volumes projected to reach 50,000 vehicles per day.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) completed a $53.2 million project widening a key stretch of Louisiana Highway 70 and installing a new roundabout, with the milestone marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday.
According to a DOTD news release, the project is designed to support growing traffic volumes and long-term economic development in Ascension and St. James parishes.
As part of the project, DOTD installed a roundabout at the intersection of Louisiana Highway 70 and Louisiana Highway 3125, replacing a traffic signal at one of the corridor’s busiest intersections in an effort to reduce congestion, and improve safety, the news release states.
Four-Lane Divided Highway Supports Growth and Freight Movement
In addition to the roundabout, crews widened Louisiana Highway 70 from the Louisiana Highway 22 interchange in Sorrento to the Sunshine Bridge, located on the east side of the Mississippi River. A separate two-lane roadway running parallel to Louisiana Highway 70 was constructed, creating a four-lane divided highway along the corridor, according to DOTD.
More than 30,000 vehicles travel the improved stretch daily, a figured expected to increase to 50,000 over the next 20 years, WAFB 9 News reported.
Construction began in 2023, and DOTD said the completed improvements will enhance freight mobility, improve access to industrial facilities and strengthen regional connectivity between Ascension and St. James parishes.
“Today’s ribbon cutting marks a major step forward for mobility, safety, and economic growth in this corridor,” said DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet. “This area is seeing significant industrial expansion, population growth, and increased commercial activity. With these improvements, LA 70 is now better equipped to support that momentum and to serve the thousands of motorists and businesses that rely on this route every day.”
Sources: DOTD, WAFB 9 News