Essen Lane widening set to take place

The state will add a northbound lane to the 1-mile section of Essen Lane between Perkins Road and Interstate 10 to improve traffic flow along Baton Rouge’s major medical corridor.

Gov. Bobby Jindal announced plans Friday for the $12 million project during a news conference at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Funding that would have been used to improve the interchange at Interstate 12 and Essen will be shifted to the widening project.

Jindal, who was flanked by Sherri LeBas, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, members of the local legislative delegation and Scott Wester, CEO of Our Lady of the Lake, said development along Essen — much of which is being driven by the ongoing expansion of the medical center — made widening the road a priority.

“I grew up in this area and there was not a whole lot out here back then, other than for Our Lady of the Lake and Jimmy Swaggart (Ministries),” Jindal said. But now the area is booming and it is important to improve the roads in order to keep up with the economic growth, he said.

Construction of the additional lane will begin in summer 2014 and the project has a tentative completion date of summer 2015, said Jodi Conachen, a DOTD spokeswoman.

To minimize the impact on Essen Lane businesses, many of which are located close to the street, a limited amount of right of way will be taken from both sides of the road, not just the side where the lane is being added, Conachen said.

Adding the lane will increase capacity on Essen Lane northbound by 30 percent, according to DOTD estimates. This will reduce congestion and delays for the more than 35,000 motorists who travel along the section of Essen from Perkins to I-10 each day.

Wester said the project will improve access for the 5,000 people who work at Our Lady of the Lake, along with the patients being treated at the medical center and their families.

Jindal said the analysis of the Essen/I-12 interchange project was based on traffic data from the 1990s. At the same time, some of the ongoing road projects done by the state and the city, such as the widening of I-10, I-12 and Staring Lane, have improved traffic flow in the area.

In order to move the money to the Essen widening project, DOTD has submitted an application for a capital outlay scope change to the Interim Emergency Board, which will set a date for a meeting. After the IEB meeting is held, ballots will be sent to legislators within three days. Legislators will then have 17 days to respond. Once that process is approved by legislators, DOTD will conduct an environmental study, start engineering and design work and acquire rights of way.

Rep. Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, who attended the news conference along with fellow Baton Rouge Republicans Rep. Franklin Foil and Sen. Dan Claitor, said he was pleased that a section of Essen Lane will be improved. “We’re going to do Bluebonnet next, then Siegen,” Carter said, joking.

“One at a time,” Jindal said.

Comments

1) Comment by albermarle52 - 22/09/2012

Do it like Atlanta. Shift lane directions depending on traffic flow

2) Comment by gumbo33 - 22/09/2012

Also, why not just take a lane from the other direction? Then you would have 3 lanes going towards i10. Maybe then spend the money on increased connectivity in the area. Pull some that local lunch traffic off of Essen. I know people who have to get in their cars just to get across Essen because there is not one pedestrian friendly way to do so. This town really is a joke from an infrastructure and planning standpoint. The amount of money being flushed down the toilet on adding lanes when that isn't even the solution to our traffic problems is astounding.

3) Comment by gumbo33 - 22/09/2012

This city has no North to South thruway roads for miles in that area other than Essen, Bluebonnet and Siegen. A dedicated path near the top of the creek would be a huge and important step for this city to make. I know tons of people who would take advantage of a bike path to get to work 3+ days a week if they had that SAFE option. From my house to work on a dedicated bike path, it would take me 15 minutes to bike that distance. That's about the same time it takes me to drive and worse when the interstate(s) get backed up. The logic of another Essen lane makes no sense when you consider there is still the i10/12 logjams and the many traffic lights on Essen. And the price tag! $12 million for a mile of road!? You could build 30 miles of dedicated bike paths and connect low traffic streets for that amount of money. BTW It's going to be a traffic nightmare when they close down a lane in both directions to do this. I might just start walking to work.

4) Comment by albermarle52 - 22/09/2012

If I was biking in the area, I wouldn't even fool with Essen. You can get from Kenilworth to the mall buy using Dijon and Picardy. They're wide streets with little traffic. I'm curious to see how this bike path along Ward's Creek turns out. When it rains hard it becomes a river. I hope they take that into account when they design it.

5) Comment by Dubyatiger - 21/09/2012

It's about time...I am guessing one of these legislators recently got stuck in Essen traffic and had the bright idea to finally work on it. And no, Essen does not need a bike lane. There are no parks, schools or other public destinations that would benefit from it. You're either driving to the hospital or driving to get on the Interstate...not going on a fun bike ride down Essen. Save the bike lane for Perkins.

6) Comment by Straight Shooter - 21/09/2012

Adding a bike lane would alleviate traffic and tie into the future pathways connecting hospitals and retail between Siegen Lane and Essen Lane. I travel down Essen quite a bit and often wonder how much time a bike ride would save.

7) Comment by all2neat - 21/09/2012

Any chance LA42 in Prairieville will ever be widened?

8) Comment by taylor2285 - 21/09/2012

Does anyone know if this project will include a sidewalk or any pedestrian safety features? Or will Essen Lane continue to be the urban Siegen?