Project Information
| Interstate 10 |
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The Louisiana DOTD Geaux Wider Program is a multi-year widening construction initiative designed to increase capacity, improve safety and enhance mobility along a combined 16 miles of Interstates 10 and 12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes. Included in the Program is the installation of 16 ramp meters along I-12 from Baton Rouge to Livingston Parish that are designed to improve travel times and increase safety. Work on the widening began in January 2009; ramp meter installation began in May 2010. Completion is expected by 2013. The cost of the entire program to date (four widening projects and the ramp metering installation) is $293.6 million. There are several projects occurring on these interstates at one time, with each project under the purview of different contractors. All, however, report to DOTD.
Interstate and Construction Information
Approximately 300,000 drivers use I-10 and I-12 each day. It is a critical route for thousands who live and work in Baton Rouge, a vital transcontinental freight corridor and a principal east-west link to the southern U.S. Travel impacts on one interstate often affect the other.
Construction on both interstate highways (including 24 bridges and overpasses) is underway now. During peak travel times four lanes of traffic (two lanes eastbound and two lanes westbound) are expected to remain open, although some oversized tractor trailers may be required to use alternate routes. When lane closures are required, they will mostly occur at night during low travel times and with DOTD approval.
For the safety of motorists and workers in the work zone, the speed limit within the project limits is 50 mph and will be strictly enforced by law enforcement. DOTD's Motorist Assistance Patrol vans will assist drivers in the event of accidents or breakdowns.
Project Section Details
The work to widen I-10 from four to six lanes between the I-10/I-12 split and Highland Avenue will be done in two separate construction projects along eight miles of roadway.
Major I-10 project components:
- Widen the Essen Lane overpass to accommodate commercial thoroughfare.
- Replace the bridge over Ward Creek.
- Widen the overpass bridges on Siegen Lane and Bluebonnet Blvd.
- Construct sound walls from Essen Lane to Bluebonnet Blvd. on the westbound side.
- Replace the old bridge over the Kansas City Southern railroad tracks.
From 10/12 Split to Siegen Lane – This 4.1 mile project will encompass previous work that was completed during the I-10 Picardy Interchange project that widened a portion of I-10 between Bluebonnet and Siegen. Work on the project began on January 5, 2009 and should be complete by 2012. Funding for the $86.2 million project includes $30 million from the 2007 state budget surplus, $50.6 million in federal funds, and $5.62 million in state funds. The contractor is Austin Bridge and Road.
- Phase I: Eastbound and westbound lanes were narrowed while crews built temporary lanes on the outside shoulders to accommodate traffic shifts.
- Phase II: All traffic will be shifted to the existing outside lanes and temporary shoulder lanes while crews build new center and inside lanes. Also, work will begin on the Ward Creek, Essen Lane, Siegen Lane overpass, and Bluebonnet overpass bridges.
- Phase II-A: Westbound traffic will shift to the newly completed lanes of the Ward Creek and Essen Lane bridges while crews rebuild the westbound portions of the new bridges and roadway between these bridges. Eastbound traffic will remain on the existing eastbound bridges.
- Phase II-B: After the westbound portions of the roadway and bridges are complete, westbound traffic will shift to the outside and center lanes of the Westbound roadway. Eastbound traffic will shift to the center portions of the new bridges of Essen and Ward creek and the roadway between these bridges to allow crews to build the eastbound outside portions of the new bridges and roadway.
- Phase III: Traffic will shift to the new center and inside lanes while crews build permanent outside lanes and shoulders.
- Phase III-A: Reconstruction of the on- and off-ramps at I-12, Essen Lane, the ramps west of Bluebonnet Blvd., and the ramps east of Siegen Lane. (The ramps west of the Siegen Lane and east of Bluebonnet Blvd. interchanges were completed during a previous construction project.)
From Siegen Lane to Highland Road – This $60 million design-build project is 100% funded with federal stimulus money. The design-build team has begun work on designing the project. Construction began in August 2010 and will last until early 2013. The Design-Build project is led by Boh Brothers Construction.
- Phase I – Shoulder Work (prep shoulder for traffic). Estimated duration of 5 months.
- Phase II – Interior Widening (Construct interior pavement widening and KCS bridges). Estimated duration of 12 months
- Phase III – Exterior Widening (Construct exterior pavement widening and KCS bridges). Estimated duration of 13 months.