![DOTD Plans To Widen I-10 From I-49 To The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2016/02/I-10-I-49-Cloverleaf-Google-Maps-e1456463553179.jpg?w=300&h=200&zc=1&s=0&a=t&q=89&w=980&q=75)
DOTD Plans To Widen I-10 From I-49 To The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
Traveling between Lafayette and Henderson on Interstate 10 in South Louisiana can be a very interesting proposition. It's estimated that more 60-thousand people travel this stretch of the Interstate Highway system everyday. The roadway not only carries local traffic but there is interstate commerce in the form thousands of tractor trailer rigs as well.
It's this traffic congestion and the unusual amount of large trucks on the roadway that has given the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development a reason to fast track improvements to this stretch of roadway.
Every chance we can remove vehicular traffic from truck traffic, it makes it safer for everyone. This is a very important segment that 60,000 people a day travel through.
Shawn Wilson is executive Director of DOTD and he told the Louisiana Radio Network that the planned work will involve federal dollars from the U.S. Governement's Fastlane program.
It was the only project that we had that was eligible for this pot of money that will allow us to stretch our dollars further and wider here in Louisiana.
Widening, not so much as stretching, is the goal of the project as well. The plan will have the current two lanes of traffic for eastbound and westbound travelers increased to three lanes in both directions. The widening will cover the roughly 15 mile stretch of interstate between the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge in St. Martin Parish and the junction of I-10 and I-49 in Lafayette Parish.
Many residents have voiced concerns about road construction delaying travelers during this time.
That’s one of the really important things from a safety and a convenience perspective is to ensure that the normal mobility patterns aren’t totally disrupted with construction.
Construction on the project is scheduled to begin in January of 2017.
More From News Talk 96.5 KPEL
![Left Lane Open, but Miles of Congestion on I-10 in Crowley After Tractor-Trailer Overturns](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2023/01/attachment-DOTD-Accident-crash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Wreck Closes Lane on I-10, Major Delays Announced](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2021/12/attachment-Louisiana-State-Police-Car-photo-courtesy-of-LSP.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Child That Drowned Behind Louisiana Welcome Center Identified, 1-Year-Old Brother Also Found](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/07/attachment-Untitled-design-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![I-10 East Closed in St. Martin Parish](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2020/10/RS39705_DSC_67321.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Major Crash and Scattered Debris Close I-10 West in Louisiana](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/06/attachment-Screen-Shot-2024-06-30-at-10.26.47-AM.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Louisiana Residents Are Least Likely to Move to These 9 States](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2021/11/attachment-convertkit-5SWgIJSsVJo-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![These Two Texas Airports Named Among Best in the World](http://townsquare.media/site/29/files/2019/09/GettyImages-1170331407.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![App Alerts Louisiana Drivers of Recalls on Vehicles, Child Safety Seats](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2024/03/attachment-Marcus-Chenier-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Portions of I-10 in Scott, Louisiana to Close This Week for Construction](http://townsquare.media/site/33/files/2017/12/RS5624_118322709-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)