Louisiana Interstate Highway System Turns 60

Today the Louisiana Interstate Highway System turns 60 years old and the Department of Transportation has released a state of the interstate report.

DOTD Secretary Sean Wilson says our system is very valuable, effective but sometimes over capacity. He says if we want to keep up our interstate we’re going to have to make some improvements.

“If we want to invest and maintain this system and leave a network of connectivity, we’re going to have to make some serious investment.”

But Wilson says we have an interstate system we can be proud of. He says only 26% of the pavement is in poor or mediocre condition.

“The pavement condition of our interstate is in very good condition, not perfect. We’ve got several stretches that are in need of repair that we have concentrated on and we’re going to continue to work and maintain.”

Wilson says they’re going to work on improving parts of I-10 and I-20 to make room for more travelers. He says travel has increased by 43% on Louisiana’s interstates from 2000 to 2014.

“We are growing very quickly in this state and the numbers show it, we are number 4 now in the country for vehicle miles traveled.”