LIVINGSTON PARISH, LA (WAFB) -
It's a list Livingston Parish residents wait for every year, the list of
roads that will be repaired. At Thursday's council meeting, council members
will offer up roads in their districts that need to be fixed. One councilman
says there's one road in particular that needs attention in his district.
Dangerous curve signs and flashing caution lights are fairly new additions
to South Satsuma Road. But neighbors who live along the 90 degree curve have
long been concerned about cars speeding by. One neighbor recalls a motorcycle
driving around the curve too fast. She says the driver flew and ended up in the
ditch and the motorcycle turned over in the street.
Councilman Chance Parent is determined to add South Satsuma to the parish
road priority list, along with few others.
"Areas around the old courthouse that are in bad shape," Parent
said. "Courtney Road is another highly traveled road that's falling apart
that I want to get squared away."
For now, South Satsuma - a road that sees more than 11,500 cars daily, is
his priority.
Parent says a roundabout can be put in to replace the 90 degree curve on the
road. Federal funds would cover much of the cost, with the parish putting up
some money as well.
"Probably a $400,000 construction cost for the roundabout itself.
Parish matches about $100,000."
Parish President Layton Ricks says whatever roads go on the priority
list, its possible some will stay there for two or three years, before each and
every one can be done.
"Paved, overlaid, potholes filled. Whatever kind of maintenance they
need on roads," Ricks said.
Ricks says the parish should have between two and three million dollars to
spend on the roads. He says last year they had the same amount of money and
were able to fix 27 roads.
Most of the council agrees they'll spend the money in the places that affect
the most people.
"We should be able to get a lot of asphalt on the ground this
year," said Parent.
The money for those projects comes from the parish road tax plus funds from
the state transportation program. The council hopes to have its list narrowed
down at Thursday night's meeting.
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