The Loop

 

The DOTD says that they cannot find a suitable way to run the loop to the south of Baton Rouge. After extensive research ( I looked at a  U.S.G.S. map) and have found a way to do it without disturbing ANY environmentally sensitive areas and the land for the right of way is as cheap as a north loop.

 

The start of the loop on the west side of the river would start at the Highway 415 exit using the existing interchange right of way to keep down the cost of the highway.

 

The loop would then proceed south to the intercoastal waterway with a bridge crossing the waterway just east of the south turn in the canal. Since the DOTD already owns the property there would be no cost involved in this right of way acquisition.

 

 Following the intercoastal waterway to where it meets Highway 77 it then takes a slow turn to the east across the sugarcane fields west and south of Plaquemine. Where the loop crosses Highway 75 west of Plaquemine an interchange would be required and where it crosses Highway 1 south of Plaquemine

 

The loop would cross the Mississippi River just south of the Entergy Willow Glen power generating station on the east side of the river. This would be the most expensive part of the loop since it would involve building a bridge across the Mississippi River. At Highway 30 (Nicholson Drive) another interchange is necessary.

 

At this point the loop would follow the Entergy power line right of way all of the way to Interstate 10 south. An interchange would have to be constructed at this point. Since BREC owns most of this property a “swap’ could be done to keep the dollars down for the right of way.

 

The loop would then proceed east following the Entergy power line to U.S. 61 (Airline Highway). Another interchange would be required at this point.

 

From there it would go east following the power line until it crosses the Amite River. Another bridge would be required at this point along with an elevated roadway for the distance of  one and three quarters of a mile to keep the roadway from flooding when the Amite River is up.

The loop would the follow the Entergy power line  to Highway 16 in Livingston Parish where an interchange could be constructed.

 

 Proceeding east and north again following the Entergy power line to Interstate 12 once again an interchange would be required at this point.

 

 The loop ends at this point unless it could be tied in to the north loop to make a complete loop around Baton Rouge this would tie both Interstate 10 and 12 to the loop, removing all of the traffic going south through Baton Rouge to New Orleans and most of the truck traffic going through Baton Rouge to Interstate 12 to the east. The truckers would use the loop to avoid the traffic congestion in the heart of the city

 

It is really that easy if someone would look at a map instead of studying the problem to death and continue wasting tax dollars.

 

 L.A. Delaroderie