Turning lanes added on Elton Road

Construction project continues

Construction on Elton Road in Jennings continues with the recent completion of two new turning lanes on the road.

The new turning lanes were added to alleviate congestion on the city’s main thoroughfare, said Louisiana Department of Transportation (LADOTD) public information officer Brandie Richardson.

The new turning lanes include one in the northbound lane turning west at the intersection of Elton Road and Shankland Avenue, and one in the northbound lane turning west past Hospital Drive and before the intersection at Fred and Ruth Zigler Memorial Drive.

The new lanes were able to be constructed without widening the roadway through construction, and instead were made by making each lane in the fourlane road slightly more narrow to accommodate them, Richardson said.

The entire construction project stretches for nearly three miles throughout Jennings and is a patch, mill and overlay project, Richardson said.

“Patch, mill and overlay projects are designed to remove damaged portions of the asphalt roadway and replace it with new smooth pavement,” Richardson said.

In their work contractors will repave the street from curb-tocurb, repair damaged sidewalks and driveway aprons, replace and repair damaged underground water, sewer and drainage lines if necessary and install American with Disabilities Actcompliant curb ramps at intersections if not already in place, Richardson said.

No additional turning lanes are expected to be constructed and all existing turning lanes will remain intact, Richardson said.

The roadwork begins about 0.08 miles north of Hospital Drive and stretches 2.8 miles to West Racca Road in total, Richardson said.

Not counting any possible weather delays, construction is projected to be complete by July 31. Once completed the project will cost around $1.16 million and is being completely funded by the LADOTD, Richardson said.