Project manager Danny Donahue said it right when he called the line-up of cars on U. S. 90 from I-310 to Des Allemands a “fiasco.” He was referring to the traffic after work had started on improvements and widening of the highway this past week.
Plans had been to close two lanes during daytime hours while the work was in progress and leave the four-lanes open at night. It didn’t work.
“We never expected the (daytime) traffic to be that bad,” he said. So Barriere Construction, the contractor, changed the plans to do most of the work that requires lane closures at night when it won’t affect the heavy traffic periods, which is definitely the right decision.
Included in the work will be widening of the roadway and extensions of on-off ramps to I-310, along with patching of the present roadway. The work will extend from Paul Maillard Road to the Des Allemands Bridge.
It is expected that one-lane closures on each side of the highway will take place at night. This will, of course, significantly slow down traffic but not at busy times.
Unfortunately, there are hardly any alternate routes along U. S. 90 in that section. Hwy. 631 (Old Spanish Trail) is the only one and it cannot bear much heavy traffic.
But with the change of plans, the burden should not be that great for motorists who can try to plan their travel accordingly. It won’t be for long and the improvements should be worth it.
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