LA 415 Connector Receives FONSI
Updated: Aug 31
An Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was received in April 2007. This finding allowed the project to proceed into design. The DOTD performed a vessel survey in 2017 to assess the necessary bridge height for crossing of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW.) with the completion of the vessel survey, changes in scope and footprint, and expansion of development in the project area, DOTD has reevaluated the EA/FONSI and received federal approval.
The EA/FONSI recommended moving forward with Build Alternative 4 with LA 1 Intersection B, which included a four-lane connector roadway having a four-lane bridge over the GIWW. Build Alternative 4 was proposed with four, 12-foot travel lanes with eight-foot outside shoulders. The required bridge height was a vertical clearance of 73 feet above the mean high water elevation (MHW) with a horizontal clearance of 125 feet. The 2017 vessel survey confirmed the necessary vertical clearance would remain 73 feet above MHW.
As development has occurred in the area and additional information has become available from technical and engineering studies, the resulting changes to the project design including adjustments to the route required a Reevaluation of the NEPA FONSI/EA document. This is illustrated on the exhibit below, sourced from the April 2023 Reevaluation document.
Documents
Applicable documents are available from the Louisiana DOTD website at the links provided.
Initial 2007 Environmental Assessment (EA) and FONSI
2023 Reevaluation
