Open House Tonight for Proposed Roundabout in Ascension Parish to Ease Airline Hwy Traffic

Improving Traffic Flow in Ascension Parish

Ascension Parish Government, in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD), is planning to implement a roundabout at the intersection of LA-44 and Lowe’s Avenue. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance traffic flow along Airline Highway. The project aims to address long-standing issues that have caused significant delays for residents and commuters.

Cheri Wall, a local resident of Ascension Parish, has experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating this area. She often finds herself stuck waiting at the traffic light on LA-44 in front of the Lowe’s store. “People are stuck in the middle because they can’t get out to get onto Airline Highway or Burnside. It’s a mess,” she explained. Wall shared her experience of waiting for up to 10 minutes at the light, witnessing others struggling with cross traffic for as long as 15 minutes.

Daniel Helms, Chief Transportation Engineer for Ascension Parish Government, acknowledged the inefficiencies of the current intersections. “Right now, the intersections are operating fairly inefficiently. Most of them are split-phased. There’s only so much time each signal is given for it to work and for it to operate,” he said. Helms and his team have been working on solutions as part of the “Move Ascension Project,” which began in 2016. Their efforts have led to the development of a proposed roundabout plan.

Previously, the engineers implemented a traffic light optimization project. However, Helms believes a roundabout would be more suitable for the area's layout. “We’re doing what’s called access management, which cuts down the conflict points between people turning in and out of different businesses that will help traffic. The removal of those conflict points actually makes traffic move more slowly,” he explained. He emphasized that this is just the first step in a larger plan.

The overall plan includes five projects along LA-44 and Airline Highway, all aimed at improving traffic flow at key intersections. “As each one of these projects progress, you’ll start to see less and less congestion, less and less conflicts, less and less crashes, and an ability to use this corridor freely,” Helms stated. Residents like Wall are hopeful about the potential benefits of the project. “If they do it right, it’ll help,” she said.

Wall also noted that while the roundabout could alleviate some traffic issues, it may not resolve all problems. “It’s not going to alleviate all of it,” she added. She highlighted the importance of public awareness and proper use of roundabouts. “A lot of people don’t know how to use a roundabout, but if people will pay attention and they can get it done, it will relieve some of it.”

Helms mentioned that the first phase of the project is set to begin construction in 2027 and is expected to take five years to complete. Early estimates suggest the total cost for all five phases could range between $10 million and $20 million.

To gather community input, Ascension Parish Government is hosting an open house meeting until 7 p.m. on Wednesday night. The event will take place at the Ascension Parish Government Complex in Rooms 109 and 110. Residents are encouraged to attend and share their thoughts on the project.

This initiative represents a significant step toward improving traffic conditions in the area and enhancing the overall commuting experience for residents and visitors alike.