Reasons to love and live in Louisiana (Baton Rouge, Shreveport: apartment, renters)

[Innotech]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Not much news is posted here about the city, glad to hear its getting so many things. Traffic will be a problem in the future, no doubt. I haven't driven around enough to get a feel for the traffic but I've heard it's built around a strange grid. Do you think the I-49 extension will help significantly?

Well, for one thing, Evangeline Throughway has a bunch of traffic lights going through very busy roads in the city. I think if this was somehow built above the current roads as a normal highway, the businesses on both sides may die out, but those areas are already largely crime filled and abandoned, so it wouldnt make much difference. As it is now, that corridor is an eyesore and a very poor presentation of the city. It needs to be completely redesigned both to improve traffic flow and make that part of the city more presentable. The rest of the Northside looks pretty respectable now, so theres no excuse for that portion to look so poor.

[annie_himself]

Yes the Evangiline Thruway area does look pretty rough, I do like how certain parts feels though. I always thought a freeway would destroy any opportunity there. Would you rather it be improved or demolished for the freeway? I don't know much about getting around Lafayette so maybe they could re-route the freeway more to the east or west, but I don't know what lies in either direction. Looking on a map, there's a tight grid around the area and UL is to the west along with downtown. Confusing...

[JimLFT]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Yes the Evangiline Thruway area does look pretty rough, I do like how certain parts feels though. I always thought a freeway would destroy any opportunity there. Would you rather it be improved or demolished for the freeway? I don't know much about getting around Lafayette so maybe they could re-route the freeway more to the east or west, but I don't know what lies in either direction. Looking on a map, there's a tight grid around the area and UL is to the west along with downtown. Confusing...

Here's a map of the planned route. The Evangeline Thruway will continue to exist at grade level while the elevated freeway will steer closer to the CBD. They do diverge and re-converge at points in the mid-city, but generally follow the same route. The Thruway within the city is six lanes, as well as the planned elevated section, but south of Pinhook the Thruway is four lanes, but currently being widened to six for the next seven miles +-, but will essentially become I-49 at the airport.

Just wondering when this $300 million project will ever break ground..

I49-Connector Project: Overview (http://www.i49connector.com/overview_map.html# - broken link)

[annie_himself]

I was thinking it might steer closer to downtown, that is a pretty extensive project. I was thinking it may stay surface streets then continue as a freeway around the airport.

[JimLFT]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

I was thinking it might steer closer to downtown, that is a pretty extensive project. I was thinking it may stay surface streets then continue as a freeway around the airport.

There was a time when this project considered a below ground option, water pumps, and all. The elevated option ultimately won in that discussion.

[annie_himself]

That would have been cooler.

[JimLFT]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

That would have been cooler.

True, but folks would then miss seeing our dazzling downtown skyline!

[annie_himself]

Haha, can't see it anyway!

[JimLFT]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

Haha, can't see it anyway!

Oh so cruel, yet so true. LOL

[annie_himself]

I don't think I've ever seen the skyline other than that same old photo, I'm sure you know which one I'm talking about. Wonder if the skyline will ever change, they're landing some bigger business, some of these companies should build a tower and be neighboring tenants.