Late 2026 Efforts
Updated: Aug 31
Moving this project forward towards construction in early 2027 will require several steps to be completed first. They are:
Conduct public and stakeholder engagement to gain feedback on design changes and obtain environmental clearance from FHWA through the NEPA Reevaluation process. An open-house style event is scheduled for Tuesday evening, September 8, 2026 at the West Baton Rouge Conference Center.
Complete land survey fieldwork in areas where the roadway design changed so that final right-of-way maps can be produced.
Complete research and plans for working around or relocating existing utilities and pipelines.
With environmental clearance obtained and required ROW maps in-hand, LADOTD will initiate negotiations and acquisition of properties for right-of-way necessary to build the project.
Finalize construction plans, specifications, cost estimates, and a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for the project financial plan for Phase 1 of the project.
During the close of 2026, the public may see work crews conducting land survey or utility location work within the corridor. Among the first heavy construction efforts to begin in the new year will be geotechnical work including Test Pile Program (Early Works Package No. 1) to assess soil capacity conditions for the permanent roadway bridge substructures.
