MOVEBR Program Breaks Ground on Two Major Projects
The MOVEBR Program Management Team, joined by Mayor - President Sid Edwards, Mayor Dustin Yates (City of St. George), East Baton Rouge Council members Denise Amoroso (District 8), Dwight Hudson (District 9), Rowdy Gaudet (District 3), and several representatives of the city of St. George & the St. George Fire & Protection completed groundbreaking activities for two major MOVEBR roadway projects within the southern region of East Baton Rouge Parish. This makes the Jones Creek Road Extension Project and the Perkins Road Capacity Project two of 17 overall MOVEBR initiatives that are located in the city of St. George.
Mayor - President Sid Edwards, emphasized the importance of accelerating project progress across the parish. "This area has grown exponentially in recent years, and with growth comes challenges, especially traffic, but MOVEBR will help resolve most of these issues," Mayor - President Edwards said. "Today’s groundbreaking highlights my commitment to moving these projects forward more quickly and continuing to make East Baton Rouge Parish better for all of us," said Edwards.
Jones Creek Road Extension Project
The Jones Creek Extension Project is a greenfield project, meaning a new road will be constructed to extend Jones Creek Road from Tiger Bend to Airline Highway, adding a new north–south connector in this area to improve mobility. It provides an alternative to existing routes like Antioch and Jefferson and creates additional capacity within the area. The proposed improvements include:
- New four-lane roadway with a raised median
- 10-ft shared use path on each side
- Roundabout where Jefferson meets the Jones Creek Extension
- Bridge over Clay Cut Bayou
- Connection to Profit Avenue, within the Old Jefferson Subdivision and
- Installation of a comprehensive subsurface drainage system, including curb and gutter design
The goal of the project is to increase vehicular throughput and provide pedestrian access in the area. The project was designed by Waggoner and began clearing and grubbing operations in January. During this phase of the project, local contractor, Boone Services, will remove trees and clear the ground so that appropriate grades can be set and the ground compacted for preparation of construction of the roadway itself. Drainage and sewer work will also be conducted during this time. The estimated project cost is $92M.
Perkins Road Capacity Project
The Perkins Road (Pecue - Siegen) Project is a capacity project that originated under the Green Light Plan and was adopted into the MOVEBR Program. Currently a 2-lane roadway with open ditches from Siegen to Pecue Lane. The project includes:
- adding two additional 11’ travel lanes
- shared‑use paths on both sides of the roadway
- Intersection upgrades at Siegen and Pecue, including an additional left turn lane at the Perkins Road/Pecue Lane intersection
- Roadway median
- 3 pedestrian hybrid beacons with a pedestrian refuge
- Green infrastructure components
- Drainage reconfiguration from open ditches to a sub-surface system
Mayor Yates noted the project’s regional impact, stating, "Expanding lanes and improving access management will reduce bottlenecks and improve travel times for thousands of drivers who rely on this roadway every day."
To increase capacity and facilitate a smooth flow of travel, access management was essential in the design of this project. Access management features include reducing the number of left turns, providing j-turns where left turns are permitted along with bulb outs for U-turns. These improvements are especially important to the St. George Fire station 6 located along this corridor; a direct access point will be located adjacent to the fire station; once completed, the improved roadway capacity will help reduce traffic congestion, allowing fire apparatus and emergency vehicles to move more efficiently and safely through the area during peak travel times. "Projects like the Perkins Road widening are about more than infrastructure, they’re about public safety," said Gerard Tarleton, Fire Chief of the St. George Fire Protection District. "When this project is complete, improved traffic flow and safer access throughout the corridor will allow our crews to reach emergencies more efficiently, reduce response delays, and continue providing the high level of service our community expects and deserves."
The project was designed by Stantec and the contractor, Triumph Construction, LLC. mobilized for clearing and grubbing operations at the beginning of February. During this time the contractor will remove surface and land vegetation and obstacles where future construction or utility relocations are to take place. The estimated project cost is $40M.
Stakeholders can educate themselves on expectations during construction and the general construction process here.
About MOVEBR
The MOVEBR Transportation and Infrastructure Improvements Program is the most significant transportation infrastructure investment in East Baton Rouge Parish history. The 1/2 cent sales tax proposition was approved by the voters of East Baton Rouge Parish on December 8, 2018. Proceeds of the tax can only be spent on the approved list of projects.
Photo galleries for each event can be viewed at the following links: